WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


WORKS  BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 

PUBLISHED  BY  MCGRAW-HILL  BOOK  COMPANY,  INC. 


The  American  Electricians'  Handbook. 

An  encyclopaedia  of  applied  electricity,  a 
tool  for  the  practical  man.  Flexible  leather 
cover,  7  in.  by  4 1/4  in.,  over  700  pages,  over 
900  illustrations.  $3.00 

Practical  Electricity. 

A  practical  treatise  on  the  elements  of  elec- 
trical engineering,  carefully  prepared  to  supply 
the  requirements  of  men  with  little  mathemat- 
ical training.  5 1/2  in.  by  8  in.,  over  400  illus- 
trations, about  300  pages. 

(In  preparation.) 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED 
BUILDINGS 

A  PRACTICAL  TREATISE,  DEALING  WITH  THE 
COMMERCIAL  AND  THE  TECHNICAL  PHASES 
OF  THE  SUBJECT,  FOR  THE  CENTRAL- 
STATION  MAN,  ELECTRICAL  CON- 
TRACTOR AND  WIREMAN 


BY 
TERRELL  CROFT 

CONSULTING  ELECTRICAL  ENGINEER 
AUTHOR  "AMERICAN  ELECTRICIANS'  HANDBOOK' 


FIRST  EDITION 


McGRAW-HILL  BOOK  COMPANY,  INC. 
239  WEST  39TH  STREET,  NEW  YORK 

6  BOUVERIE  STREET,  LONDON,  E.  C. 

1915 


G1 


COPYRIGHT,  1915,  BY  THE 
MCGRAW-HILL  BOOK  COMPANY,  INC. 


THE. MAPLE. PRESS. YORK. PA 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

PREFACE v 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS       vii 

COMMERCIAL  SECTION 

CHAPTER  I 

POSSIBILITIES  AND  RESULTS 

Business  already  obtained I 

Business  that  is  yet  to  be  obtained 2 

Rate  of  growth 2 

Possibilities  of  the  small  customer 3 

Results  from  finished-building  wiring  campaigns      ......  4 

CHAPTER  II 

ADVERTISING 

General 6 

Methods  of  advertising 7 

Newspaper  advertising 9 

Circular  letters 1 1 

Street  car  cards 12 

Posters  and  bill-board  advertising 13 

Display  cards .....  14 

Window  display  advertising 15 

Circulars  and  folders 15 

Handbills 18 

Electric  signs 19 

Personal  canvass 19 

Miscellaneous  methods 20 

Examples 21 

CHAPTER  III 

SOLICITATION 

Qualifications  for  solicitors 25 

Solicitation  districts 26 

Solicitation  card  records 27 

Estimating 28 

Special  solicitation  methods 30 

CHAPTER  IV 
POLICIES 

General 32 

Methods  of  payment 32 

ix 


x  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Relations  with  contractors 33 

Estimating  and  prices 35 

Policy  in  regard  to  fixtures 36 

Policy  in  regard  to  furnishing  lamps 37 

Controlled-flat-rate  method  of  charging 38 

CHAPTER  V 

EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS 

Byllesby  Company  campaigns 39 

Campaign  of  Union  Electric  Co.,  St.  Louis  .... 44 

Campaign  in  Boston,  Mass 45 

Campaign  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Edison  Co 46 

Campaigns  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa 47 

Kansas  City  campaign 49 

Campaigns  in  smaller  cities  and  towns 50 

CHAPTER  VI 

COSTS  AND  PRICES 

Methods  of  determining  costs  and  prices 54 

Estimates  and  their  compilation 55 

Standardized  or  unit  prices 56 

N.E.L.A.  cost  and  price  data 60 

Miscellaneous  cost  data 62 

Cost  and  price  tables  for  different  methods  of  wiring  and  differ- 
ent localities 69 

APPENDIX  TO  COMMERCIAL  SECTION 

SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  FINISHED-BUILDING  WIRING  CAMPAIGN 

Foreword 85 

Outline  of  campaign .*.-%.  •-.    ....  86 

Form  of  campaign 93 

TECHNICAL  SECTION 
CHAPTER  VII 

METHODS  OF  WIRING 

General .'............  101 

Rigid  iron  conduit  wiring. 102 

Flexible    metallic    conduit    and   flexible  steel  armored   cable 

wiring .113 

Combination  rigid  and  flexible  conduit      .    .    .    .    ...    .    .    .    .  119 

Knob  and  tube  wiring 123 

Metal  molding  wiring        .................  128 

Wooden  molding  wiring 130 

Methods  used  in  Europe 135 


CONTENTS  xi 

CHAPTER  VIII 

PAGE 

PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS 

Underwriters'  and  municipal  requirements 144 

General  considerations 144 

Branch  circuits,  distribution  centers  and  panel  boxes 146 

Building  construction 150 

Three-way  and  emergency  switch  circuits 153 

CHAPTER  IX 

TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 

Neatness  and  how  attained 157 

Removal  of  floor  boards  and  making  of  pockets 159 

Removal  and  replacement  of  trim 1 68 

Cutting  outlet  holes .."  ....  169 

Boring  and  boring  tools 170 

Exploring  lamps  and  devices  and  their  application 178 

Fishing  and  fishing  devices 183 

Running  conductors  to  side  outlets 200 

Running  conductors  to  center  outlets 209 

Miscellaneous  methods 212 

CHAPTER  X 

EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 

Installations  without  panel  boxes 217 

Installations  with  panel  boxes 234 

Miscellaneous  installations 249 

CHAPTER  XI 

FIXTURES 

Fixtures  for  finished-building  installations 252 

Illustrations  and  costs  of  fixtures 254 

Finished-building  fixture  sets 255 

INDEX 257 


WIRING 

OF 

FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

CHAPTER  I 

POSSIBILITIES  AND  RESULTS 

1.  Business  Already  Obtained.  It  is  difficult  if  not  impossible 
to  secure  authoritative  figures  relating  to  this  matter.  Probably 
the  best  data  that  have  thus  far  been  compiled  are  those  contained 
in  the  1914  Report  of  the  Committee  on  Wiring  Existing  Buildings 
of  the  National  Electric  Light  Association.  The  values  therein 
given  are  undoubtedly  accurate.  They  are  reproduced  in  Table 
6  and  show  that,  in  different  sections  of  the  country,  the  number 
of  central -station  customers  ranges  from  20  to  200  per  1000 
population.  However,  as  indicated  by  the  table,  in  most  of  the 
cities  there  are  at  present  somewhere  around  but  50  or  60  cus- 
tomers per  1000  population.  Furthermore,  the  data  were 
furnished  by  a  "selected  list  of  reporters  only"  and  may  or  may 
not  be  representative  of  the  entire  country.  The  names  of  the 
cities  referred  to  in  the  table  have  been  concealed  by  the  com- 
mittee. It  is  altogether  probable  that,  in  cities  and  towns  over 
the  entire  United  States,  the  number  of  customers  per  1000 
population  is  considerably  below  50.  In  Strassburg,  Germany, 
and  in  Milan,  Italy,  the  development  has  already  reached  a 
value  well  over  150  customers  per  1000  population. 

la.  Percentage  of  Houses,  in  Cities  of  20,000  Population  and 
Under,  Wired  for  Electricity.1  From  returns  made  to  the  Elec- 
trical World  by  central  stations  in  all  sections  of  the  country,  the 
number  of  houses  in  cities  of  20,000  and  less  inhabitants  which  are 
equipped  to  use  electricity  varies  with  the  localities.  Returns 
from  100  cities  of  a  population  of  5000  or  less  taken  at  random 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  indicate  that  58  per  cent,  of  the 

1  Electrical  World,  Oct.  17,  1914,  page  774. 

1 


"  t  ;  W  I  RING  \Q&  FINISHED  B  UILDINGS 

%   *    .  l 


houses  ate  Wi^i.  ,  I^icities^with  a  population  ranging  from  5000 
to  10,000  the  percentage  is  "54.'  Thirty-  two  cities  with  popula- 
tions of  more  than  10,000  and  less  than  20,000  show  that  60  per  cent. 
of  the  houses  are  wired.  In  the  newer  sections  of  the  country 
west  of  the  Mississippi  the  percentages  are  considerably  higher 
than  in  the  older  sections.  On  the  Pacific  Coast  the  percentages 
run  as  high  as  98,  while  in  the  Middle  West  the  average  is  over  60 
per  cent.  The  Atlantic  Coast  shows  the  lowest  percentage. 
These  figures  are  not,  however,  absolutely  accurate  and  would  not 
be  true  of  all  of  the  cities  in  the  country  having  a  population  of 
20,000  and  under.  They  are  based  on  incomplete  returns  for 
the  entire  country  and  represent  the  conditions  in  progressive 
communities.  If  complete  returns  were  available,  the  percent- 
ages would  be  doubtless  lower.  However,  the  returns  for  the 
Middle  West  and  the  Pacific  Coast  represent  conditions  accurately 
for  those  sections. 

2.  Business  that  is  yet  to  Be  Obtained  in  Finished  Buildings. 
No  absolutely  definite  and  accurate  information  is  available.     In 
a  few  cities  the  number  of  illuminating  gas  consumers  is  prac- 
tically  250   per   1000    population    and   there   is    no    apparent 
reason  why  the  electrical  development  should  not  at  least  equal 
this.     It  is  altogether  probable  that  the  electric  will  exceed  the 
gas  development.     It  is  apparent,  from  a  consideration  of  the 
values  given  in  Table  6  and  in  this  and   the   preceding   para- 
graphs, that  any  central  station  that  does  not  now  have  at  least 
200  customers  per  1000   population  has   splendid   possibilities 
ahead  of  it.     P.  L.  Miles  is  authority  for  the  estimate  that, 
considering  the  entire  country,  "only  about  8  per  cent,  of  all 
houses  are  equipped  for  electricity,"  the  value  including  both 
urban  and  suburban  homes.     In  Toledo,  Ohio,  there  are  ap- 
proximately 55,000  homes  and  9000  electric  light  users,  a  de- 
velopment of  1  6  per  cent. 

3.  Rate  of  Growth.    Table  6  shows  that  each  central  station 
consulted  showed  an  increase  in  business  for  the  year.     This 
increase  is,  doubtless,  general  over  the  entire  country.     In  cities 
where  finished-building  wiring  campaigns  have  been  or  are  being 
waged,  the  growth  is  much  more  rapid  than  elsewhere.     In  the 
National  Electric  Light  Association  Wiring  of  Existing  Buildings 


POSSIBILITIES  AND  RESULTS  3 

Report,  previously  referred  to,  it  is  brought  out  that  the  growth 
appears  to  be  proportional  to  the  number  of  existing  customers. 
That  is,  the  more  customers  a  central  station  has,  the  more  it  may 
expect  to  get.  This  is  attributed  to  the  fact  that  the  most  effect- 
ive solicitors  that  a  central  station  has  are  its  customers.  If  one 
family  has  electric  light  the  neighbors  want  it  too.  Fig.  i  illus- 
trates this  fact  very  nicely.  It  is  the  map  of  a  certain  large  city. 
Each  black  dot  indicates  the  location  of  a  wired  finished  building. 
The  illustration  shows  conditions  about  three  years  after  the  in- 
auguration of  an  aggressive  finished-building  wiring  campaign.  It 


FIG.  i. — Illustrating  the  tendency  of  finished-building  wiring  installations 
toward  grouping. 

will  be  noted  that  the  wired  finished  buildings  tend  to  lie  in  groups 
or  clusters  in  many  instances.  This  is  attributed  to  the  effect  of 
the  gossip  and  of  the  gratuitous  solicitation  service  of  the  people 
residing  in  the  respective  districts. 

4.  Possibilities  of  the  Small  Customer.  It  is  from  the  small 
user  that  most  of  the  future  finished-building  business  will 
come.  A  large  majority  of  the  larger  buildings  are  already 
wired.  The  average  income  from  these  small  buildings  may  not 
exceed  $10  to  $16  each  annually,  but  in  the  aggregate  the  reve- 
nue will  reach  a  very  substantial  amount.  Such  consumers 
must  be  connected  at  minimum  cost.  Expensive  service  runs 
and  expensive  meters  cannot  be  used.  Considerable  success  has 


4  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

resulted  in  Pittsburgh  and  in  other  places  from  charging  the  small 
consumer  on  a  flat-rate  basis  and  using  a  maximum  demand  in- 
dicator or  a  current-limiting  device  to  protect  the  central  station 
against  theft  of  electricity  (Par.  57a).  This  arrangement  elimi- 
nates meter-reading  charges  and  minimizes  the  bookkeeping. 
It  is  probable  (National  Electric  Light  Association  Report}  that  the 
average  annual  gross  income  from  the  finished  buildings  that  are 
not  now  but  will  be  wired  will  be  something  less  than  $12  each. 

5.  Results   from   Finished-building   Wiring   Campaigns.    A 
study  of  the  data  given  in  the  chapter  "Examples  of  Campaigns" 
will  convince  one  of  the  gratifying  results  that  can  be  obtained  by 
going  after  the  finished-building  business  in  a  systematic  way  with 
proper   advertising,   solicitation   and  price   schedules.     As    one 
example  of  what  may  be  accomplished  the  following  data,  relative 
to  the  Duquesne  Light  Company  of  Pittsburgh,  are  given: 

More  than  6500  finished  buildings  have  been  wired.  In 
dollars  and  cents  the  results  are  indicated  by  the  following  figures 
which  show  the  amounts  collected  during  various  years  for  wiring: 
1907,  $2772;  1908,  $4269;  1909,  $15,198;  1910,  $30,125;  1911, 
$68,586;  1912,  $85,305;  1913, $72,962  and  1914,  $65,000.  Aggres- 
sive advertising  and  solicitation  was  started  during  the  latter  part 
of  1910.  The  figures  show  the  result.  See  61  for  description  of 
campaign. 

6.  Table  Indicating  the  Status  and  Possibilities  of  Finished- 
building  Wiring.     (See  following  table.) 

From  1914  Report  of  Committee  on  Wiring  Existing  Buildings,  National 
Electric  Light  Association. 


POSSIBILITIES  AND  RESULTS 


fcj 

Location 

Population 

Customers 
per  1000. 
popula- 
tion1 

Residence 
customers 
per  1000 
popula- 
tion1 

New 
buildings 
per 
100,000 
popula- 
tion2 

Per 
cent,  of 
new 
buildings 
wired 

Old  buildings 
wired   during 
a  year  per  cent, 
to  single  dwell- 
ings   already 
served  at  be- 
ginning of  year 

I 
2 
3 

Over  a 
million 

45 
54 

20 
26 
26 
30 

19 
25 
19 
12 

12 

16 

95 
108 
88 

90 
Si 
90 

8 
5 

2 

4 

5 
6 

7 

w 

Between  100,000 
and  300,000 

50 

70 

£ 

23 
27 
27 
35 

28 
44 

% 

10 

ii 

12 

18 

322 
268 
62 
83 

IOO 
95 
56 
90 

20 

6 
17 
3 

8 
9 

W 

Between  50,000 
and  100,000 

37 
42 
26 
32 

25 
29 
ii 
16 

202 

44 

85 
90 

21 
36 

10 
ii 

12 
13 

Between  20,000 
and  50,000 

11 

ll 

50 

i] 

29 

40 

14 

20 

26 
198 
145 

IOO 

87 

72 

4 
4 

12 

18 

14 

Between  10,000 
and  20,000 

49 
54 

36 

39 

263 

70 

A 

15 

16 

1 

Between  300,000 
and  500,000 

1 

121 
129 
25 

40 

373 

2000 

IOO 

83 

0 

3 

Between  300,000 

42 

£7 

and  500,000 

45 

18 

1 

Between  100,000 
and  300,000 

no 
135 

96 

1229 

50. 

10 

J9 

20 

ji> 

-3 
•a 

S 

Between  20,000 
and  50,000 

79 

22 
28 

34 
41 
9 
II 

382 
1192 

66 
60 

12 

21 

Between  10,000 
and  20,000 

72 

75 

40 
44 

3OO 

83 

22 

209 
169 

72 

78 

105 
135 
49 
52 

1647 
1  1 

85 

3 

2 

24 

25 
s- 

1 

Under  10,000 

108 

I2O 

82 

87 

71 

ll 
ll 

267 

555 

67 
96 

2 
10 

20 

?8 
126 

56 

167 

67 

14 

2  V 

afti 

75 

28 

in 
109 

82 

24 

50 

4 

29 

ll 

Between  30,000 
and  50,000 

61 
88 

63 
77 

118 

84 

23 

1  The  first  figure  is  for  one  year  earlier  than  the  second. 

2  Single  dwellings.     Apartments  and  stores  not  always  included. 


CHAPTER  II 
ADVERTISING 

7.  Advertising   is   essential  in   successful   finished-building 
wiring  campaigns.    It  is  obvious  that  unless  the  public  knows 
that  a  campaign  is  being  conducted  and  is  generally  familiar 
with  the  propositions  offered  and  the  advantages  accruing  through 
the  use  of  electricity,  the  campaign  can  hardly  be  successful. 
Advertising  will  disseminate  this  knowledge.     There  appears  to  be 
no  one  means  of  advertising  that  should  be  used  to  the  exclusion 
of  the  others.     On  the  contrary,  experience  has  shown  that  best 
results  are  obtained  when  several  means  are  used  conjunctively. 
For  example:  newspaper  advertising,  circular  letters  and  win- 
dow displays  have  all  been  used  at  the  same  time  and  coordinately, 
with  splendid  results.     In  some  campaigns,  practically  all  of  the 
methods  of  publicity  have  been  used  simultaneously,  with  grati- 
fying returns.    The  people  who  are  not  reached  by  one  means 
may  be  by  another.     Some  people  are  probably  reached  by  all, 
in  which  case  the  cumulative  effect  is  powerful.     Advertising  may 
assist  in  one  of  three  ways:  (i)  It  may  get  direct  orders,  (2)  it 
may  pave  the  way,  rendering  the  solicitor's  work  easier,  and  (3) 
it  may  attract  inquiries  which  the  solicitor  can  follow  up. 

8.  The  Desideratum  of  Finished-building  Wiring  Campaign 
Advertising.    The  general  object  is  to  induce  the  owners  to  mod- 
ernize the  many  thousands  of  unwired  houses.     They  must  first  be 
convinced  that  electricity  is  cheap  and  efficient — even  necessary 
for  the  ordinary  comforts  of  life.     Next,  there  is  the  problem  of 
cost.     The  householder  must  be  shown  that  neither  the  installa- 
tion of  wires  and  fixtures  nor  the  use  of  electric  current  is  expen- 
sive.    Finally,  the  house  owner  and,  more  particularly,  the  house- 
wife must  be  assured  that  the  wiring  will  be  installed  without 
noticeable  damage  to  the  building  and  without  creating  much  dirt. 

9.  A  house-wiring  campaign  can  often  be  effectively  preceded 
by  an  educational  campaign  to  overcome  houseowners'  prejudice 

6 


ADVERTISING  7 

and  to  popularize  the  use  of  electricity.  Nothing  creates  a  desire 
to  use  electricity  as  effectively  as  does  the  introduction  of  labor- 
saving  household  appliances.  These  should  be  supported  by 
the  persistent  arguments  that  they  can  be  operated  cheaply,  that 
they  solve  the  servant  problem,  that  they  eliminate  drudgery 
and  add  to  the  comfort  and  efficiency  of  the  housewife  and 
her  maid.  The  wiring  of  an  old  house  often  is  traced  directly  to 
the  desire  of  the  housewife  to  use  an  electric  iron,  washing  machine, 
vacuum  cleaner  or  cooking  appliance.  The  rapidly  spreading 
desire  for  labor-saving  electrical  appliances  has  been  indicated  in 
several  campaigns  by  the  large  number  of  baseboard  outlets  and 
floor  receptacles  requested. 

10.  Advertising  cost  of  a  wiring  campaign  varies  with  the  condi- 
tions   in   the   different  communities.     No  data  can  be  given. 
Newspapers  with  the  best  and  largest  circulations  should  be  se- 
lected and  the  cost  of  advertising  should  be  regulated  according 
to  the  returns.     To  maintain  the  advertising  cost  at  a  mini- 
mum, the  advertising  department  should  be  in  daily  touch  with 
the  contract  department  and  the  amount  of  advertising  should  be 
determined  by  the  amount  of  business  received. 

11.  Bringing  the  Bargain  Feature  into  Wiring  Campaigns.    In 
the  electrical  business,  as  in  the  department  store  game,  much  may 
be  gained  by  the  inducement  of  cut  rates.     Due  to  department 
store  advertising,  the  American  public  has  developed  the  con- 
firmed habit  of  bargain-hunting.     Cut-price  sales  of  electrical 
appliances  not  only  will  induce  many  housewives  to  ask  for  the 
installation  of  wiring  in  their  homes,  but  will  put  the  appliances 
on  the  central-station  lines  as  consumers  of  electricity.     A  bar- 
gain in  wiring  may  also  be  offered  as  an  inducement  to  have  the 
wiring  done  within  a  certain  time  limit.     The  standing  of  the 
illuminating  company  will  assure  its  prospective  patrons  of  first- 
class  workmanship  in  the  installation  and  the  fulfillment  of  all  the 
terms  of  the  advertised  offer. 

12.  The  different  methods  or  mediums  of  advertising  may  be 
listed  as  follows — the  list  may  not  be  complete  but  it  indicates  the 
most  important  methods.     The  items  in  the  list  are  arranged 
arbitrarily. 


8 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Newspaper  Advertising.  6.  Window  Display. 

Circular  Letters.  7.  Circulars  and  Folders. 

Street  Car  Cards.  8.  Handbills. 

Posters — Bill-board  Advertising.        9.  Electric  Signs. 

Display  Cards.  10.  Personal  Canvass. 

Each  of  these  different  methods  will  be  briefly  treated  in  para- 
graphs that  follow. 

13.  The  relative  values  of  the  various  methods  of  advertising 

probably  differ  in  each  community,  with  the  nature  of  the  proposi- 
tion and  with  the  class  of  people  to  whom  the  appeal  is  made.  A 
very  interesting  tabulation  relating  to  this  subject  is  that  of  Par. 
14,  which  was  compiled  by  Charles  Munson,  local  manager  for  the 
Iowa  Railway  and  Light  Company,  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa 
(Electrical  World).  As  each  contract  was  closed  the  customer 
was  requested  to  state  which  method  of  advertising  aroused 
his  interest.  The  data  of  the  table  is  the  result  of  their  answers 
Probably  the  effect  of  window-display  advertising  would  be  less 
important  in  larger  cities  than  in  Marshalltown.  In  cities  of 
populations  up  to  possibly  20,000  inhabitants  almost  every  one 
walks  along  the  main  street  nearly  every  day,  and  an  attractive 
window  display  can  be  made  very  powerful.  It  is  conceded  that 
newspaper  advertising  is  practically  always  essential,  particularly 
in  the  larger  towns  and  cities.  The  personal  canvass  is  also 
essential,  though  this  method  more  properly  should  be  classed 
under  Soliciting  and  is  treated  elsewhere. 

14.  Table  Indicating  Relative  Values  of  Different  Methods  of 
Advertising.    This  table  records  the  results  of  a  campaign,  of  one 


Method  of  advertising 


Per  cent.  Watts  Amount 


Window  display  

7Q 

8829 

$72O    3O 

Handbills  

10 

2QA.T, 

24.3     IO 

Newspapers 

10 

2O4.3 

Office  employees  

10 

2Q4.7 

24.7     TQ 

Outside  employees  .        

10 

2O4.7. 

Personal  canvass   . 

j  i? 

Neighborhood  canvass  

10 

2Q4.2 

ou4  •  "5 

24.7     TO 

Street  car  advertising  

5 

1471 

I2I-5S 

Total  residence  wattage  secured 
Total  contracts  given  to  contractors 
Total  amount  of  contracts . . 


. ..  34,285 

91 

$2,431.40 


ADVERTISING 


9 


month's  duration,  in  Marshall  town,  Iowa,  a  city  of  13,500  (1910 
census)  inhabitants.     See  13. 

15.  Newspaper  advertising  will  give  results,  particularly  in 
large  cities,  that  can  be  attained  by  no  other  means.  It  is  im- 
practicable, if  not  impossible,  to  give  any  rules  as  to  how  much 
space  should  be  carried  and  as  to  how  often  the  advertisements 
should  be  run.  The  class  of  people  that  the  advertiser  is  trying 
to  reach  and  the  characteristics  of  his  proposition  are  factors  in 


At  Your 
Finger's  E,nd 


Every  minute  of  the  day  or  night— that's  the  convenience 
you  derive  from  Electric  Light— in  addition  to  -its 
many  other  comforts. 


Wire  Your  House 


4  Ceiling  Outlets  and)  £|  fj  95 


FIG.  i A. — A  good  newspaper  advertisement. 

the  matter.  In  other  paragraphs  are  given  outlines  of  successful 
campaigns  that  have  been  waged.  From  these  the  reader  can 
obtain  suggestions  as  to  newspaper  advertising  policies  that  have 
been  adopted  with  good  results.  As  a  general  rule  "fine  writing," 
flashy  headlines  and  the  like  should  be  avoided.  It  has  been 
found  that  plain,  concisely- worded  statements  are  the  most  effective 
and  inspire  the  most  confidence  in  the  reader.  Reading  notices  in 
conjunction  with  display  advertising  are  often  valuable.  Line 
cuts  of  bold  rendering  should  be  used  freely  as  they  will  attract 
attention  where  it  can  be  gained  by  no  other  means.  Fig.  iA 


10 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


shows  a  good  newspaper  advertisement.     Illustrations  of  typical 
newspaper  advertisements  are  shown  on  other  pages. 


U 

I 


|  .^^pKpiiil 

J         J°       -- '-   j   ,   ..   2   °   -';'    Ife«««tf«itf«MUM«^      tl   I 


<^> 


u  oo 

•C  H 


%.% 
Pn 

.9 


3* 


S'fl 


^ 


£5 

-s^ 

3^ 


g  o 

a  s 


IS 
IJ 

rt^5 
«^j— i 

.s'3 

n 

vo-d 

x^ 

d    . 

-& 


16.  Some  sample  newspaper  advertisements  are  shown  in 
Figs.  2  and  3.  These  were  used  by  the  Union  Electric  Light  & 
Power  Company  in  its  campaign  which  is  described  elsewhere. 


ADVERTISING  11 

Larger  illustrations  of  the  fixtures  offered  are  shown  in  the  chapter 
on  "Fixtures." 

17.  Circular  letters  reach  certain  people,  particularly  women, 
who,  apparently,  can  be  reached  by  no  other  method.  Type- 
written letters  are  preferable,  but  if  printed  ones  must  be  used 
they  should  be  printed  in  typewriter  type  by  a  concern  that  is 


WIRE   YOUR   HOME 

—NOW— 

t  WE  WILL  WIRE  A- 

5-ROOM  HOUSE  With£t£f±R~"1  fOR  $17.95 


ADDITIONAL  OUTLETS;  on  Same  Floor,  EACH,  $1.80 
ELECTRIC  FIXTURES,  a.  Low  as  (EACH),  ...     .70 

fl.  12  MONTHS  TO  PAY-wira  YOUR  BILLS  FOR  SERVICE. 

q  MINIMUM  SERVICE  CHARGE  ONLY  50c  PER  MONTH. 

«^HAVE  our  REPRESENTATIVE  CALL  and  Talk  Over  This  Matter  With  You. 

q  ASK  FOR  CATALOGUE—  FREE. 

"HAVE  A  LIGHT"  .j^SjgljL  "HAVE  A  LIGHT" 

MAIN   OFFICE,  THISM!  6RANCH  OFFICES, 

491Z  D.ln»,  Av. 


3028  N"  Gran<J  AT 

HONE,  WRITE  OR  CALL  —  r— 


q  Prices  of  Electric  Lamp*  Reduced — 
Effective  April  15th,  1914. 


4  Household   Electric   Labor-Saving 
Appliance*  Sold  at  Our  Store*. 


FIG.  3. — Newspaper  advertisement  (9  in.  Xp  in.)  used  by  the  Union  Elec- 
tric Light  &  Power  Company. 

familiar  with  the  preparation  of  imitation  typewritten  letters. 
The  ink  used  in  the  printing  should  be  matched  with  the  type- 
writer ribbon  that  is  used  for  writing  in  the  names  and  addresses. 
Each  letter  should  be  signed  in  ink — by  a  clerk — with  the  name 
of  some  department  head  or  official.  Each  letter  should  go  out  in 
a  sealed  envelope  under  a  two-cent  stamp.  Every  effort  should  be 
made  to  make  the  letter  appear  a  personal  communication.  The 


12 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


text  of  the  letter  must  be  determined  by  circumstances.  If  pre- 
liminary to  a  campaign  it  may  be  educational.  If  during  a  cam- 
paign it  may  direct  attention  to  the  company's  proposition  or  it 
may  suggest  that  the  prospect  should  have  a  solicitor  call.  When 
the  name  of  an  individual  who  has  shown  interest  in  a  wiring 
proposition  is  once  on  the  "prospective"  list,  follow-up  cir- 
cular letters  can  be  sent  to  him  to  supplement  the  calls  of  the 
solicitor.  Some  typical  circular  letters  are  shown  in  the  appendix 
to  the  commercial  section  of  this  book. 

18.  Circular  letters  in  a  Boston,  Mass.,  campaign  were  used  to 
good  advantage.  The  Edison  Electric  Illuminating  Co.  of  Boston 
sent  out  broadcast  to  prospective  customers  individually  ad- 


WE  WILL  WIRE  YOUR  HOUSE 


s     for  FIVE  rooms 


IE  months  to  pay 


12th  &  Locust 


Get  our  wiring 
proposition 
on  "already 


FIG.  4. — Street  car  card  used  by  the  Union  Electric  Light  &  Power  Company. 

dressed  letters  showing  what  could  be  accomplished  for  the  basic 
investment  of  $14.35.  On  the  border  of  the  letter  were  repro- 
duced ten  photographs  showing  the  different  forms  of  service 
which  might  be  obtained  from  a  single  outlet — with  from  one 
to  three  sockets.  See  60  for  outline  of  the  Boston  Company's 
proposition. 

19.  Street  Car  Cards.  A  standard  street  car  card  is  21  X  n 
in.,  but  double  cards,  that  is,  42  X  n  in.,  are  sometimes  used. 
Street  car  advertising  must  always  be  supplemental  because  the 
lettering  should  be  large  to  be  easily  and  quickly  read,  hence  there 
is  not  enough  room  to  tell  much  of  a  story.  Street  car  announce- 


ADVERTISING 


13 


ments  serve  to  hammer  in  and  clinch  statements  made  elsewhere 
and  they  should  not  be  used  for  anything  else.  It  has  been  stated 
that,  in  large  cities,  street  car  advertising  brings  a  statement 
before  a  greater  number  of  people,  or  before  the  same  people  a 
greater  number  of  times,  than  is  possible  with  any  other  form 
of  advertising.  Rental  charges  for  street  car  card  space  vary 
from  25  cents  to  60  cents  per  month  per  card.  The  price  is 
determined  by  the  class  of  community  the  car  line  traverses, 
the  size  of  the  city  and  by  other  considerations.  The  Union 
Electric  Company  used  car  cards  like  that  shown  in  Fig.  4.  While 
it  was  impossible  to  trace  the  direct  results  of  these,  the  opinion 
is  that  they  were  very  helpful.  Table  14  shows  that  in  the 


Reflectors 
,  Con  tain  ing    Lamps  • 


Wooden 
Lattice, 
Pctintecf 
Green 


WIRE   YOUR  HOHE 
LET  Us  TELL  You 
OUR   PLAN 

KANSAS  CITY  ELECTRIC  Co. 


BB       B 

BB    BB 


PHONE 


Ornamental 
Globe 
Containing 
Lamp 


Wooden 

Column, 

Painted 

White 


FIG.  5. — Illuminated  sign. 

Marshall  town  campaign  only  5   per   cent,  of  the   orders   were 
directly  traceable  to  street  car  advertising. 

20.  Posters  and  bill-board  advertising  has  been  used  in  finished- 
building  wiring  campaigns.     It  is  no  doubt  very  effective  when 
used  in  conjunction  with  other  mediums  but  no  definite  data  ap- 
pear to  be  available  as  to  just  how  valuable  it  is. 

21.  Illuminated  Sign  Advertising  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.  (Elec- 
trical World,  July  5,  1913).     The  Kansas  City  (Mo.)  Electric 
Light  Company  effected  an  agreement  with  the  Thomas  Cusack 
Sign  Company  whereby  the  electric-service  company  lighted  250 
lineal  ft.  of  signboard  (Fig.  5)  upon  which  its  advertisements  are 
painted  by  the  sign  company.     As  soon  as  one  display  space  is 


14  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

sold  to  a  customer  desiring  a  lighted  board  the  lighting  company's 
sign  is  transferred  to  another  board,  still  retaining  250  ft.  of  space. 
The  success  of  the  plan  has  been  marked,  for  no  sooner  has  the 
electric  service  company  occupied  and  lighted  a  board  than  it  has 
been  demanded  by  some  prospective  advertiser. 

22.  Display  cards  and  "To  Let"  cards  are  cheap  and,  appar- 
ently, are  splendid  supplementary  mediums.  Properly  worded 
display  cards  can  be  tacked  on  the  lighting  company's  poles  or 
hung  in  the  windows  of  vacant  houses  that  are  wired  and  are  to 
rent.  The  cards  should  feature  the  idea  that  no  one  should  rent 
aji  unwired  building  as  any  building  can,  through  the  illuminating 
company,  be  cheaply,  safely  and  quickly  wired.  See  Fig.  6. 


THIS  HOUSE  IS 


Use  Electricity  and  save  money;  Five  cents'  worth  will 
do  the  average  washing.  Less  than  five  cents'  worth 
will  enable  you  to  do  two  days'  sewing  in  one  day. 
A  vacuum  cleaner  and  ten  cents  for  current  will  save  a 
day's  hard  work  with  the  broom.  Two  hours'  ironing 
can  be  done  in  one  hour  at  a  cost  of  five  cents. 


FIG.  6. — Finished-building  wiring  campaign  placard.     Size  13  in.   X  n  in. 

23.  Display  cards  or  placards  were  used  in  the  Manchester, 
N.  H.,  campaign  for  wiring  finished  buildings.  All  real  estate 
dealers  were  supplied  with  placards  n  in.  by  13  in.  of  the  type 
shown  in  Fig.  6.  The  advantages  of  electric  washers,  motor- 
driven  sewing  machines,  and  vacuum  cleaners  were  indicated  to 
advantage  on  these  cards.  Window  displays  also  were  featured. 
In  these  a  residence- type  meter,  main  switch  and  fuses  were  wired 
to  various  appliances  in  operation  to  convince  the  prospective 
customer  of  the  simplicity  of  electric  service. 


ADVERTISING  15 

24.  Use  of  Photographs  of  Installations  in  a  Finished-building 
Wiring  Campaign.    One   of   the   chief   difficulties   encountered 
during  a  campaign  is  the  belief  that  some  people  possess,  that  it  is 
impossible  to  wire  an  occupied  building  without  spoiling  all  the 
walls,  getting  dirt  over  the  entire  place  and  disorganizing  things 
generally.     If  these  people  can  be  convinced  that  they  are  wrong 
they  usually  become  interested.     To  prove  that  the  installation 
would  be  made  with  a  minimum  of  damage  or  dirt,  the  contracting 
agent  of  the  Kansas  City  Electric  Light  Company  secured  photo- 
graphs of  wiring  jobs  during  different  stages  of  the  work.     En- 
largements of  these  pictures,   mounted  on  electrically  lighted 
easels  and  arranged  with  holders  for  the  wiring  campaign  litera- 
ture, were  placed  in  drug  stores  throughout  the  residence  district. 

25.  Window  display  advertising,  particularly  in  towns  of  less 
than,  possibly,  20,000  inhabitants,  is  one  of  the  most  resultful 
means  of  publicity  available  to  the  central  station  or  contractor. 
The  values  of  Par.  14  indicate  that  in  that  particular  campaign 
the  window  display  advertising  was  much  more  valuable  than  any 
other  means  employed.     The  window  display  should  be  such  as 
will  compel  attention.     Some  device  in  action  will  usually  draw  a 
crowd.     If  fixtures  are  offered  in  the  campaign,  a  set  can  be  dis- 
played and  a  placard  should  indicate  their  price  and  the  room  for 
which  each  fixture  of  the  set  is  intended.     A  small  section  of  a 
frame  house  can  be  built  in  the  window  and  the  wiring  in  it  shown 
so  as  to  indicate  how  wiring  can  be  installed  in  a  finished  building 
without  visible  damage.     The  process  of  finishing  between  out- 
lets can  also  be  illustrated.    Placards  should  plainly  state  the 
company's  wiring  offer. 

26.  Circulars  and  folders  can  be  used  in  important  campaigns 
to  supplement  the  other  mediums.     A  good  circular  outlining  the 
advantages  of  electric  service  and  the  ease  with  which  houses  may 
be  wired  can  be  sent  to  all  inquirers,  to  precede  the  solicitor,  or  the 
circulars  can  be  sent  over  a  selected  list.     Fig.  7  shows  the  cover 
of  an  excellent  six-page-and-cover  circular  (8  1/2  in.  X  12  in.) 
used  by  the  Union  Electric  Company  of  St.  Louis.     The  reverse 
side  of  the  cover,  showing  the  return  card,  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  8. 
Pages  i  and  2  explain  how  readily  houses  can  be  wired  and  the 
desire  of  the  company  to  assist  toward  this  end.     The  advantages 


16 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


of  electric  service,  the  installment  plan  of  payment  which  the  com- 
pany adopted,  and  the  guarantee  under  which  the  wiring  is  in- 
stalled are  all  outlined  on  page  3.  On  page  4,  large  illustrations 
of  the  fixtures  included  in  the  company's  offer  are  shown.  (See 
Fig.  203  for  pictures  of  these  fixtures.)  Pages  5  and  6  comprise 
the  Order  or  Contract  form  for  wiring  finished  buildings  which  is 
reproduced  in  Figs.  9  and  10.  This  contract  form  sheet  is  per- 
forated along  its  edge  so  that  it 
can  be  easily  removed  from  the 
circular. 

27.  In  the  Union  Electric 
Company's  circular  a  contract 
form  is  included.  Fig.  9  shows 
one  side  and  Fig.  10  shows  the 
reverse.  The  company's  propo- 
sition is  thoroughly  covered  by 


WlREYOURHOME 


Reasonable  cost 
Reliable  workmen/ 


POSTCARD 


Union  Electric  L.andPCo. 
\Y*  &  Locust  St 
St  Louis 

SAltS  DEPARTMENT 


Please  have  your  representative  call  and 
give  me  further  information  in  regard  to  the 
cost  of  having  my  house  wired,  and  the  pos- 
sible uses  of  electricity. 


FIG.  7. — Cover  of   circular    on 
ished-building  wiring. 


fin- 


FIG.   8. — Back  of  return  card  from 
finished-building  wiring  circular. 


the  contract  form.  The  consumer  can  fill  in  the  form  himself  or 
the  solicitor  can  do  it  for  him.  Including  the  contract  form  in 
the  circular  eliminates  unnecessary  clerical  work  and  provides  a 
means  whereby  the  customer  may  know  from  the  start  the  ex- 
act nature  of  the  proposition  that  is  presented  for  his  considera- 
tion. An  outline  of  the  Union  Electric  Company's  campaign  is 
given  in  Par.  59.  The  fixtures  that  are  referred  to  on  the  con- 
tract are  illustrated  in  Fig.  203. 

28.  The  National  Electric  Light  Association's  Booklet  "Elec- 
tric Service  in  the  Home."  Its  cover  is  shown  in  Fig.  n.  It  is 
furnished  to  member  companies  at  a  nominal  price  and  is  a  splen- 
did medium  for  popularizing  the  finished-building  wiring  propo- 


ADVERTISING 


17 


sition.     It  is  written  in  an  easy,  popular  style  and  is  well  illus- 
trated with  line  cuts  and  half  tones.     It  comprises  20  pages — 


ORDER  FOR  WIRING  ALREADY  BUILT  HOUSES 

(AND  FIXTURES  FOR  SAME) 

UNION  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY: 
Please  install  wiring,  etc..  as  per  details  below,  and  in  accordance  with  price  schedule  and  terms  and  conditions  on  ha 

k  hereof. 
which  I 

s  follows 
amount 
Oed  Into 

agree  to  pay.... 

f  
has  been  paid  i 
The  first 

upon  completion  of  work,  and  S  on  each  following  monthly  bill  for  electric  service,  until  tola 
payment  hereunder  shall  not;  be  less  than  ten  per  cent  (10%)  of  full  amount,  and  the  balance  shall  be  dl 
monlbl*  amounts.     •                        WIRING 

Price  Schedule 
Item  No 

LOCATION  OP  OUTLETS 

1 

'One  in  „.._  „  .\     Qn 
•!    "  >   One 

$17. 

95 

"    receptacle  outlet  in.  „  r.  /       ° 

2 

One  en  ne«t  floor,  in.        -                                _  

3 

' 

Total  additional  outlets  @  $1.80 

FIXTURES 

Quantity                                                                        LOCATIONS 

m 

m 

Total  Amount, 

The  above  prices  include  fee  for  customary  inspection. 
No  fixtures  installed  without  order  for  wiring 

There  are  no  agreements  or  understandings  in  connection  with  this  order,  between  the  parties  hereto,  except  as  herein  set  forth. 
This  order  shall  not  be  binding  on  the  Company  until  approved  by  its  Sales  Manager  or  by  an  authorized  official  of  the  Company. 
The  undersigned  agrees  that  your  electric  service  will  be  used  in  premises  covered  by  this  order,  and  to  sign  or  have  signed  your 

PurchiM-r 

Approved: 

Frmarkt  • 

"  Company  Saies'Maniiir."' 

-6- 

FIG.  9. — One  side  of  finished-building  wiring  contract  form. 

coated  paper — and  cover.     Spaces  are  provided  for  the  imprint  of 
the  company  sending  it  out.     The  three  chapters  or  sections  are 


18 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


headed:  (i)  The  Wiring  of  the  Home,  (2)  The  Lighting  Equipment, 
and  (3)  Electrical  Devices.     A  sample  copy  can  be  obtained  from 


I       JiiilliHiJiiJi 

Pill  I H 


fill!!  II I 

a  ,  ••  »  s  s  « •?  ; 


.[if 


!fl  l!:l!  l|8  IS  f  !g"  «    !  i  !      j  *    '  j~    j  S*  •     1 1 

[MI!*]']  liiflt  «  I         ~!    Is  1  l:!tsl  Itll 


e  ^ 


I-JB! 


IJJj      I      |=   =   =   =  -   i=   =   :   =   |:f:':     rajJIJI 

iii1  |ii---JliilI;ii»i?^lhlJ 

II  I 


ilillSUIIKin 


a 


s 

S^    S5 

!!i 


!! 


i 


ua 


I  . 
I 


the  office  of  the  Association  at  29  West  3pth  Street,  New  York 
City. 

29.  Handbills  can  be  used  with  good  effect  in  small  cities  and 
towns.     The  larger  places  can  be  covered  more  effectively  and 


ADVERTISING 


19 


at  less  expense  through  the  newspapers.  Handbills  used  for  this 
purpose  should  always  carry  an  attractive  illustration  or  two — 
electrotypes  can  be  obtained  gratis  from  the  large  electrical  manu- 
facturing companies — otherwise  they  are  likely  to  be  thrown 
away  before  they  are  read.  The  text  should  be  concise.  The 
advantages  of  electric  service  may  be  very  briefly  outlined  and 
then  the  central  station's  finished-building  wiring  proposition 
can  be  briefly  stated.  The  company's  telephone  number  should 
ajways  be  given  so  that  the  pros- 
pect may  call  for  a  solicitor  with 
minimum  effort. 

30.  Electric    signs    provide   a 
splendid  method  of  giving  public- 
ity   to     finished-building    wiring 
propositions.     The    wording    on 
them    is     necessarily     brief.      A 
phrase    like    "YOUR     HOUSE 
WIRED  AT  COST,  CALL  MAIN 
4280,"  or   something    similar,    is 
about  all  that  can  be  used  on  a 
stationary  sign.     With  a  flashing 
sign  the  possibilities  are  almost 
endless. 

31.  Personal  canvass,  although 
it  is  in  one  sense  a  means  of  ad- 
vertising,   is    treated    under    the 
heading    of    Soliciting    in    other 
paragraphs. 

32.  Electrical  page  advertising, 


FIG.  ii. — Cover  of  the  National 
Electric  Light  Association  booklet. 


in  cities  where  the  newspapers  carry  electrical  pages,  is  conceded 
to  be  good  publicity.  The  following,  notes  are  abstracted  from 
the  paper  of  J.  E.  McKirdy  and  Howard  H.  Wood  on  The  Wiring 
of  Old  Houses  read  before  the  1912  Convention  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Electric  Association : 

The  Electrical  Page  was  introduced  in  Pittsburgh  to  the  benefit 
of  both  newspapers  and  the  electrical  interests,  during  1912. 
Such  a  page  was  published  weekly  in  two  papers  which  had  a 
combined  circulation  of  180,000.  Four  of  the  seven  columns  of 


20 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


each  of  the  pages  were  devoted  to  co-operative  electrical  advertis- 
ing by  the  different  electrical  interests.  The  remaining  three  col- 
umns were  devoted  to  electrical  news  items.  The  aim  was  to 

explain  in  an  interesting  way 
the  advantages  of  every  con- 
ceivable use  for  electricity. 
People  looked  forward  to  the 
appearance  of  the  pages.  It 
is  believed  that  the  Electrical 
Page  provides  the  most  effect- 
ive medium  available  for 
educating  the  public  as  to 
the  popular  applications  of 
electricity  and  the  desirability 
of  having  buildings  wired. 
33.  Advertising  by  Local 


We  Wire  Your 
House  Without 
Injury  to  Walls 


OUR  worWn  don't  tramp  in  mud.  knock  dents  in  furniture 
«nd  tea,  hole*  in  your  piaster.     They  work  quietly.  quickly. 
with  as  little  dirt  a>  possible.      You  would  hardly  believe 
that  so  little  is  possible  until  you  we  them  at  work.     The  only 
evidence  that  our  workmen  leave  after  them  is  the  great  conven- 
ience of  Eledric  Light  and  Eleclncal  Appliances. 

Let  Us  Tell  You  How  Little  It 
Costs,  and—  Two  Years  to  Pay 

The  economy  of  this  clean,  convenient  light  is  its  mod  nota- 
ble feature.  Electric  Light  rates  have  been  repeatedly  reduced. 
It  save,  decorating  costs,  modernize,  the  home,  and  prov.des  a 
means  of  doing  many  tasks  about  the  house.  Electric  washing  and 
electric  ironing  save  rtep.  and  labor.  Our  liberal  plan  makes  it 
possible  lor  you  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  Electricity  in  your  own 
home,  with  very  little  effort. 


[ELECTRIC  HCHTI 


Contractors'  Associations.    In 

certain  instances  contractors' 
associations  have  advertised 
co-operatively.  It  is  obvious 
that  it  would  not  be  feasible 
for  any  but  the  largest  con- 
tractors to  advertise  a  finished- 
building  wiring  campaign 
effectively.  However,  when 
their  efforts  are  united,  re- 
sultful  advertising  is  possible. 
An  example  of  such  advertis- 
ing was  that  of  the  Faraday 
Electrical  Association  of  Chi- 
cago. Fig.  12  shows  the  cover 
of  a  folder  of  that  Association 
which  was  mailed  by  the  mem- 
ber contractors  to  prospective 
consumers.  At  the  bottom 
there  is  a  detachable  post  card.  On  this,  requests  for  additional 
information  and  for  estimates  can  be  made.  On  the  reverse 
side  is  given  the  name  and  address  of  the  contractor  sending 


OETACH_TH1S_CARO  AND  MAIL  IT  TODAY 

REQUEST  FOR  ESTIMATE 

OlK.,0. I9I_ 


FIG.  12. — Coyer  of  folder  of  Faraday 
Electrical  Association. 


ADVERTISING 


21 


out  the  circular.     Fig.  13  shows  a  notice  that  was  included  in  the 
circular. 

34.  Blind  advertising  was  employed  during  a  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  campaign.  It  was  started  early  in  the  spring,  before  the 
moving-day  period,  with  the  idea  of  educating  the  tenants  to 
demand  from  the  prospective  landlord  that  he  wire  the  house 


It  Surprises  Nearly  Everyone 

To  Know  How  Little  Fuss  or 

Muss  Our  Workmen   Make 

When  Wiring  Houses  for  the 

Use  of  Electric  Light 

Almost  anybody  can  run  wires.  Pulling  them  bad  of 
tinted  walls  without  marring  the  plaster— wider  polished  Boon 
without  leaving  a  trace  of  the  work— is  another  thing.  Our 
•workmen  have  demonstrated  their  ability  to  do  this  many  times. 
They  are  not  experimenting  on  your  bouse. 

We  Wire  Your  House — Two  Years  to  Pay 


FIG.  13. — Advertising  notice  of  Faraday  Electrical  Association. 

before  they  moved  in.  A  special  incoming-call  telephone  having 
an  easily  remembered  number  was  installed  by  the  Company  in 
its  office  to  handle  the  inquiries.  All  employees  in  the  wiring  and 
contracting  departments  were  instructed  as  to  the  details  of  the 
proposed  campaign.  A  "  want  advertisement, "  reading  thus, 
"Don't  rent  a  house  unless  it  is  wired  for  electricity.  Call  898 
Hiland  for  information"  (Fig. 
14),  was  inserted  in  the  classified 
columns  of  all  of  the  important 
daily  newspapers  under  the  head- 
ings: "HOUSES  AND  APARTMENTS 
To  LET"  and  "HOUSES  FOR 
SALE."  Irate  landlords  and 
agents  called  the  company  de- 
manding that  the  advertising  be 
stopped,  which  was  an  indication 
of  its  effectiveness.  It  was  con- 


Don't 

Rent  a  house  unless  it 
is  wired  for  Electricity. 

qCall    898    Hiland 
for  information. 


FIG.  14. — An  advertisement  that 
converted  prospective  customers 
into  lighting  company  solicitors. 


tinued  for  thirty  days  longer  than  was  originally  contemplated. 
35.  Advertising  Methods  of  the  Byllesby  Company.    The  cam- 
paign was  opened  with  the  simultaneous  appearance  of  full-page 


22  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

display  advertisements  in  the  newspapers  of  all  the  cities  in  which 
the  company  had  central  stations.  These  announced  in  bold  type, 
"HOMES  WIRED  FOR  ELECTRIC  LIGHT  AT  ACTUAL 
COST— WE  PAY  THE  CONTRACTOR'S  PROFITS."  Below 
this,  three  wiring  propositions  (104)  were  offered  the  house- 
holder, with  the  assurance  that  all  the  installations  would  be  com- 
pleted in  a  safe  and  thoroughly  modern  way  and  that  no  house- 
holder would  be  required  to  sign  a  contract  for  electric  current. 


Special  Electric  Wiring  Offer 


<J  We  will  wire  it  cost  until  July  I.  1912.  all  houses  and  stores  now  completed   and   within   reach  of  oar  lio*s  and  -will 

allow  this  to  be  paid  for  with  a  small  amount  down  and  the  remainder  in  12  equal  monthly  payments.    This  special  offer 

does  not  apply  to  houses  now  being  built  or  to  be  built. 

4  We  will  also  provide,  whetr  desired.  all  necessary  electric  light  fixtures  at  wholesale  price*  and  arrange  for  payment  on 

the  samr  easy  terms  as  for  wiring. 

<J  We  wilt  wire  your  house  or  store  for  one  light  or  tO.OOO      We  wilt  wire  for  a  single  outlet  that  you  may  use  an  electric 

vacuum  ckaner.  an  electric  washing  machine,  an  electric  sewing  machine   motor,  or  an  electric  smoothing  iron,  although 

any  of  these  labor-saving  household  appliances  may  be  attached  to  any  electric  light  socket      We  will  take  as  much  care 

and  pains  to  do  the  work  well  for  a  single  outlet  as,  for  500. 

4|  This  wiring  will  be  done  by  first-class  workmen  only.     They    will   wire  houses  to  give  owners  absolute  safety  and  the 

greatest  efficiency  at  the  least  cost     They  will  have  the   advice    and  co-operation  of  our  illuminating  engineers  in  the  ar- 

rangement of  lamps  to  give  the  best  possible  illumination  for  the  least  outlay.     In  wiring  old    houses  no  damage  will  be 

done  to  ceilings,  wall  paper  or  woodwork,  as  only  workmen  who  are  careful,  tidy  and  sk'illf  ut  are  employed. 

fj  You'  cannot  afford  to  run  the  risk  of  fires  due  to  careless  or  defective  wiring.     You    want    it  to  be  safe  and  remain  that 

way      So.  do  we.     We  are  vitally  interested      Bad  wmng  gives  an  electric  light  company  no  end  of  trouble.     We  demand 

the  best  work  first-class  workmen  can  do.     Our  interests  are  mutual. 

4  No  bouse  is  modern  that  is  not  wired  for  electricity.     Those  who  intend  to  move  should  see  that  the  house  they  propose 

to  rent  is  wired  before  they  sign  the  lease.     Prospective  tenants  should  indnce  prospective  landlords  to  accept  this  special 

oner  at  once,  as  the  rush  is  already  beginning  to  tax  our  wiring  for.ce.  large,  efficient'  and  well  organized  as  it  is.     This 

special  offer  is  good  until  July  1.  1912.     Don't  delay  and  let  others  crowd  you  out 

ALLEGHENY  COUNTY  LIGHT  COWANY 

435  Sixth  Aftnat.  fiUifary  . 


Seven  Columns  by  Ten  Inches. 

FIG.  15. — Advertisement  used  in  opening  the  Pittsburgh  Campaign. 
(Since  this  advertisement  was  printed  the  name  of  the  company  has  been 
changed  to  The  Duquesne  Light  Co.) 

The  full-page  advertisement  was  repeated  several  times  and  was 
then  followed  by  a  series  of  smaller  display  advertisements.  The 
final  advertisement  set  a  short  time  limit  before  which  the  owners 
of  unwired  buildings  might  take  advantage  of  the  offer.  The 
advertisements,  meanwhile,  were  followed  up  by  solicitors  who  ex- 
plained the  proposition  in  detail  and  closed  contracts  wherever 
possible. 

36.  An  example  of  a  successful  advertising  campaign  is  that 
which  was  conducted  by  The  Duquesne  Light  Company  of  Pitts- 
burgh. It  was  considered  that  the  only  method  whereby  the 
potential  business  in  the  territory  could  be  connected  was  through 
the  inauguration  of  a  campaign  for  the  wiring  of  finished  buildings. 


ADVERTISING 


23 


The  company  had  maintained  a  wiring  department  for  several 
years,  but  it  is  only  within  the  last  few  years  that  it  has  made 
an  organized  effort  to  wire  finished  buildings  through  systematic 
advertising.  The  campaign  started  on  January  i,  1911. 

Blind  advertising  as  described  in  Par.  34  was  the  first  move. 
After  this  device  had  aroused  the  interest  of  renters  and  property 
owners,  half-page  advertisements,  an  example  of  which  is  given 
in  Fig.  15,  were  used.  The  advertisements  announced  that 
buildings  would  be  wired  at 
cost  if  estimates  were  re- 
quested before  July  i.  The 
time  limit  was  set  to  ac- 
celerate the  placing  of  the 
contracts.  The  closing  date 
was  extended  later  with  the 
proviso  that  the  estimate  be 
requested  before  September 
i  and  the  contract  for  the 
wiring  be  placed  before 
October  i. 

In  the  advertising,  atten- 
tion was  directed  to  the  facts 
that  the  buildings  and  fur- 
nishings would  not  be  visibly 
injured;  that  safe  wiring 
would  be  installed;  that  an 
estimate  would  be  furnished 
free,  and  that  the  wiring 
could  be  paid  for  on  the  in- 
stallment plan. 


SPECIAL  ELECTRIC 
WIRING  OFFER 

4  We  will  win*t  con  until  July  1.  1912.  all  bouse*  and  stores  O6«  enraA 
Dieted  and  within  reach  of  our  Unes  and  will  allow  this  to  be  paid  for  Witt* 
small  amount  down  and  the  remainder  in  12  equal  monthly  payments,  Tofe 
special  offer  does  not  apply  to  houses  now  being  built  or  to  be  buitt. 

4  W«  will  also  provide,  when  desired,  all  necessary  electric  light  fixture*   ' 
at  wholesale  prices,  payment  for  whidi  may  be  made  on  the  same  easy 
terms  as  for  winng. 

q  We  will  wire  your  house  or  store  for  one  light  Ct  10,000  .  W«  will  wire 
for  »  single  outlet  that  you  may  use  an  electric  vacuum  cleaner,  an  electric 
washing  machine,  »n  electric  sewing  tcachin*  motor  or  an  electric  smooth- 
ing iron,  although  any  of  these  laboissaving  household  appliances  may  W 
attached  to  any  electric  light  sccket.  We  will  take  as  much  cart  and  pains 
to  do  the  work  well  for  a  single  outlet  as  for  500. 

4  This  wiring  will  be  done  by  first-claw  workmen  only.  They  will  Bird 
houses  to  give  owners  absolute  safety  and  the  greatest  efficiency  at  the 
least  cost.  They  will  have  the  advice  and  co-operation  of  our  iUummarmg 
engineers  In  the  arrangement  of  lamps  to  give  the  best  possible  Uhunina- 
lion  for  the  outlay.  In  wiring  old  bouses  no  damage  will  be  done  to  ceilings. 
wall  paper  of  woodwork,  a;  only  workmen  who  ire  careful  tidy  and  skill-' 
•fal  are  employed. 

q  ?ou  cannot  affordlo  run  the  riak  of  fires  due  to  careless  or  d«f«t?»«  re- 
ing.  You  want  tt  to  be  safe  and  remain  that  way  So  do  we.  Ws  are 
ritaUy  interested.  Bad  wiring  gives  an  electric  light  company  no  end  of 
trouble.  We  demand  the  best  work  first-class  workmen  can  do.  Our  in* 


q  No  house  is  modern  that  Is  not  wired  for  electricity 
4  This  special  offer  is  good  uct3  July  I.  19U. 

4  Call  JM  WLAND,  Wiring  Department,  and  have  on«  of  our  upera 
examine  your  house  and  give  you  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  your  wiring. 
His  services  are  free. 

Coanty  Light  Company 
43$  Sixth  Amor. 


Three  Columns  by  Tea  Inches. 

FIG.    16.^ — One  of   the  smaller  adver- 
tisements  used  after   the  campaign  was 
.  well  launched.     (Since  this  advertisement 

As     the     campaign     pro-    was  printed   the  name  of  the  company 
pressed,  the  size  of  the  ad-    has  been  changed  to  The  Duquesne  Light 

Company.) 
vertisements  was  decreased. 

Figs.  1 6  and  17  show  two  of  the  smaller  ones.  The  so-called 
"GOING,  GOING,  GONE"  advertisement  was  the  grand  finale 
of  the  Pittsburgh  advertising  campaign.  Prominent  in  the  ad- 
vertisement was  the  picture  of  an  auctioneer,  hammer  in  hand, 
ready  to  knock  down  the  prize — in  this  case  a  wiring  contract. 


24 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Houses  Wired  At  Cost 


From  his  mouth  came  the  headlines  calling  attention  to  the 
fact  that  only  so  many  days  remained  during  which  the  house- 
holder might  take  advantage  of  the  "golden  opportunity"  of 
having  his  house  wired  at  cost. 

At  times  the  display  advertisements  were  discontinued  and 
practically  the  same  wording  was  used  in  local  reading  notices 
(Fig.  17).  The  "  Going,  Going,  Gone"  theme  was  introduced  ten 

days  before  the  close  of  the 
campaign.'  As  an  additional 
stimulant  posters  were  used 
on  the  dashboards  of  street 
cars. 

As  to  results:  The  re- 
sponse to  the  advertising  was 
instantaneous,  and  the  as- 
tonishing number  of  inqui- 
ries that  were  received  made 
it  plain  that  finished-build- 
ing wiring  at  moderate  cost 
was  a  long-felt  want.  There 
were  forty  inquiries  the  first 
day  of  the  insertion  of  an 
advertisement  in  only  one 
newspaper.  A  single  request 
for  an  estimate  often  re- 


There  is  no  reason  why  the  owner  of  the 
house  you  desire  lo  rent  cannot  have  it  wired 
for  electricity  for  you.  We  will  wire  all  old 
houses  at  cost  until  June  1. 1911,  and  will  allow 
payment  to  be  made  with  a  small  amount  down 
and  12  equal  monthly  payments  thereafter.  The 
best  work  by  first  class  workmen  will  insure 
safe,  permanent  wiring  at  the  lowest  possible 
cost.  Ho  damage  will  be  done  to  ceilings,  wall 
paper  or  woodwork. 

Every  woman  desires  to  use  an  electric 
vacuum  cleaner  at  house  cleaning  time  and  the 
way  women  are  buying  electric  washing  ma- 
chines indicates  that  they  will  no  longer  tolerate 
wash  day  drudgery.  Electric  light  is  cool  in 
summer  and  absolutely  safe  all  of  the-  time. 

If  your  prospective  landlord  Will  not  give 
you  an  opportunity  to  use  electric  light  by  hav- 
ing  the  house  wired  look  fqr  one  who. will.  Have 
him  call  898  Htland,  wiring  department,  and 
get  an  estimate  made  of  the  cost  of. wiring  your 
house.  So  many  landlords  are  doing  this  that 
if  you  delay  longer  you  will  be  disappointed.' 

ASlegkoy  County  LigM  Company 

433  Sixth  Avenue,  Pittsburgh,- 
Highland  Building,  East  tibeTty, 
West  Diamond  Street,  Allegheny.- 
Masonic  Bnilding,  Bellevue. 


FIG.    17. — Effective     reading    notice. 
(Since  this  advertisement  was  printed  the 

name  of  the  company  has  been  changed  sulted  in  the  securing  of  a 
to  The  Duquesne  Light  Company.) 

number  of  contracts.    Many 

people,  however,  delayed  requesting  estimates  until  the  offer 
was  about  to  be  withdrawn.  During  the  last  ten  days  preced- 
ing the  time  limit  the  inquiries  increased  daily  until  in  one  day 
ninety-seven  property  owners  requested  estimates,  the  total  for 
ten  days  being  over  six  hundred.  Three  telephones  were  re- 
quired to  handle  the  business  and  it  was  necessary  to  keep  the 
wiring  department  open  each  evening  until  10  o'clock. 


CHAPTER  III 
SOLICITATION 

37.  Men  of  two  classes,  estimator-solicitors  and  salesman- 
solicitors,  have  been  used  to  seek  finished-building  wiring  busi- 
ness.   On  the  whole  the  salesman-solicitor  has  been  the  most 
successful  for  reasons  outlined  in  another  paragraph.     The  esti- 
mator-solicitor should  be  a  wireman  capable  of  compiling  detail 
estimates.     Detail  estimates  are  only  necessary  when  prices  are 
made  on  a  detail  estimate  basis  or  where  the  price  for  a  wiring 
proposition,  that  is  not  covered  by  standard  price  schedules,  is 
required. 

38.  An  expert  estimator  is  seldom  a  good  salesman.    The 
converse  is  also  true.     It  is  for  this  reason  that  it  has  been  found 
generally  desirable  to  provide  simple  unit-price  schedules.     With 
these  the  non- technical  solicitor  can  easily  compute  his  prices —  or 
the  prospective  consumer  can  compute  them — with  the  consump- 
tion of  very  little  time.     Most  of  the  solicitor's  time  will  thus  be 
available  for  his  real  work,  that  of  getting  the  business. 

39.  Qualifications  of  the  Finished-building  Wiring  Solicitor. 
It  is  more  essential  that  he  be  a  good  salesman  than  a  man  thor- 
oughly  versed  in  the  applications  of  electricity.     He  should  be 
capable  of  addressing  people  of  all  sorts  and  of  explaining  to  them 
the  advantages  and  comforts  that  result  from  having  a  house 
wired.     If  a  schedule  of  standardized  prices,  that  has  been  com- 
piled on  the  basis  thoroughly  discussed  in  another  chapter,  is 
adopted,  the  solicitor  will  have  no  difficulty  in  computing  his 
quotations.     Experience  has  shown  that  men  who  have  the  knack 
of  selling  will  accumulate  enough  electrical  knowledge  in  a  week 
or  so  of  field  experience  to  enable  them — provided  they  are 
equipped  with  the  proper  price  schedules — to  do  very  effective 
work.     While  a  detail  knowledge  of  electric  wiring  is  sometimes 
advantageous,  more  frequently  it  is  not.     A  solicitor  who  has 

25 


26  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

this  knowledge  is  apt  to  discuss  with  the  prospective  customer 
technicalities  that  will  confuse.  Very  large  or  exceptionally 
intricate  jobs  which  should  and  do  call  for  a  detail  estimate  should 
be  referred  by  the  solicitor  to  the  department  head,  who  can 
enlist  the  services  of  a  wireman-estimator.  The  solicitor, 
ordinarily,  should  figure  only  on  the  average  run  of  jobs,  the  prices 
for  which  can  be  readily  computed  from  the  standard  schedule. 
A  very  large  proportion — nearly  all — of  the  finished-building 
installations  will  fall  within  this  class. 

40.  Division  of  a  Community  into  Solicitation  Districts.    Each 
solicitor  should  be  assigned  his  own  district.     In  a  small  town  the 
entire  town  would  be  the  solicitor's  territory.     Where  two  solic- 
itors are  employed,  the  community  to  be  canvassed  should  be 
divided  into  two  districts.     Each  man  should  be  responsible  for 
his  own  district  and  should  handle  all  inquiries  emanating  from  it. 
Larger  cities  should  be  divided  into  as  many  districts  as  there  are 
solicitors.     Each  man  working  only  in  his  own  district  becomes 
acquainted  with  its  people  and  its  characteristics.    This  consti- 
tutes a  valuable  asset. 

41.  The   solicitor  should  call   on  the  occupant  and  on  the 
owner  of   every  unwired  building  in  his  territory.     It  is  not 
often  feasible  to  make  the  territories  sufficiently  small  that  this 
can  be  done.     But  it  has  been  done  and  successfully.     In  certain 
campaigns  card  records  (see  following  paragraph)  have  been  com- 
piled for  practically  all  of  the  unwired  buildings  in  the  territory 
served.    The  potential  prospects  indicated  by  these  cards  have 
been  and  will  be  persistently  followed  up  until  all  of  the  possible 
business  is  secured. 

42.  A  card  record  of  unwired  buildings  should  be  accumulated 
in  any  serious  campaign.     The  solicitor  when  he  calls — and  he 
should  call  at  every  unwired  building  in  his  territory — secures 
the  information  whereby  the  record  card  can  be  filled  in,  or  he 
fills  it  in  himself  at  the  premises.     Some  companies  prefer  type- 
written records  in  which  case  the  solicitor  provides  his  office  with 
a  pencil  memorandum  of  the  data  necessary  for  the  record.     (See 
Par.  63  for  a  description  of  the  method  used  by  the  Kansas  City 
Company  for  accumulating  a  record  of  unwired  buildings.)     Fig. 
1 8  shows  a  soliciting  card  which  has  many  valuable  features.     It 


SOLICITATION 


27 


is  used  by  the  Werdan,  Saxony,  central  station  and  is  described 
in  Mr.  Doane's  N.E.L.A.  report. 

Each  building  in  the  city  and  surrounding  villages  has  an  8-in.  X 
5-in.  card  like  that  of  Fig.  18.  The  first  ten  semicircular  projec- 
tions at  the  left  of  the  top  of  the  card  indicate  the  vocations  of 
those  occupying  the  houses.  The  ten  right-hand  projections 
show  the  initials  of  the  street  names.  After  the  card  is  filled  out, 
all  of  the  semicircular  projections  that  do  not  apply  to  the  one 


Green  Metal  Rider 


.-Red  or  Blue 

Metal  Rider 


d?n«p^^^4^\rYH  ^^«YRertyTndustlr9iic'iTiA"B  if  ^Y*""6!!  i  f  I  K"L  VM~NY°~1'  i  5  YT~VY  w~z 

I    IT   HI    B    Y   VI  YD  M  K  U   B   2n]l  2  3  4  5  6  7  8   9  10  II  12  13  14  15  U  17  18  B  20  21  2ZZ3  Z4  Z5  ft  Z7  Z8  t9  30  31 

A  Town                                                                 Street                                                          No.           a. 
B.                                                                                                                                                                     -k 

£-               Name 

Occupottion. 

2 

£»* 

5T 

^Co^f 

Irocs 

Resutr  of  VisiT.When  can  Visit     T 
Be  Repeated.              f 

«  Ground  Floor 

l-a.-)-'Xt6 

3. 

J_ 

J. 

|j  I*1  Floor 

— 

fj- 

p 

0 

R 

r 

S  V&  Floor 

s 

Sh 

1 

5T 

y 

Ji 

J«. 

^  30  Floor 

^ 

^005.  /  '-  Prospects  Existing                f 
(a)forLight  (b)for  Power. 
jL  =  Given  an  Estimate               \ 
(a)  for  Light  (b)  for  Power. 

^\              3  =  Visit  to  be  Repeated  on  Date  of 
4=  Has  Light 
.A/               5=  Has  Power 
6  =  No  Prospects 

'•-  Hokfor  Filing  Cabinet  Rod 

FIG.  1 8. — Example  of  a  soliciting  card. 

building  which  the  card  records  are  cut  off  prior  to  its  filing. 
Thus  the  record  cards  are  self-indexing.  All  cards  for  streets 
beginning  with  "5"  or  all  cards  for  "Residences"  or  for  "Bakers" 
can  be  separated  from  the  balance  in  the  file  with  little  difficulty. 
At  the  left  of  the  card  below  the  projections  there  is  a  row  of 
twelve  Roman  numerals  each  of  which  indicates  a  month.  The 
row  of  thirty-one  Arabic  numerals  just  to  the  right  indicates 
days  of  the  month. 

Spaces  are  provided  for  writing  in  the  name  of  the  town  and 
addresses.     The  four  horizontal   divisions  of  the  table  are   for 


28  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

information  relating  to  the  occupants  in  the  different  apartments 
and  on  the  different  floors  of  the  building.  The  code  printed  at 
the  bottom  of  the  card  is  used  for  filling  the  last  three  columns 
headed  "RESULT  OF  VISIT,  WHEN  CAN  VISIT  BE  REPEATED." 
For  example:  if  there  were  Prospects  Existing  for  Light  and  the 
Visit  to  be  Repeated  on  Date  of  Oct.  16,  the  code  "i-a-f-XiG" 
would  be  entered  in  the  column  as  shown.  Also  a  green  rider 
is  slipped  over  the  numeral  X  indicating  the  month  of  October  and 
a  red  rider  or  a  blue  one  is  slipped  over  the  numeral  16,  indicating 
the  day  of  the  month.  The  red  riders  are  used  for  ordinary 
prospects  and  the  blue  ones  for  important  large-load  prospects 
that  should  be  watched  closely.  The  vertical  columns  of  letters 
along  the  extreme  right  and  left  edges  indicate  the  first  and  last 
letters  of  the  name  of  the  village. 

When  a  solicitor  starts  on  his  rounds  he  takes  with  him  the  cards 
for  as  many  streets  as  he  thinks  he  can  cover  within  a  stipulated 
time.  He  proceeds  systematically  from  house  to  house.  The 
entries  on  the  cards  are  in  pencil  so  that  they  can  be  readily 
altered.  A  receipt  is  required  from  each  solicitor  for  the  cards 
that  he  takes  from  the  file. 

43.  Advantages  of  Carrying  a  Simple  Wiring  Price  Schedule. 
The  psychological  advantage  of  showing  the  prospect  upon  the 
first  visit  to  his  home  approximately  what  it  will  cost  to  wire  the 
building  cannot  be  overestimated.     The  simplicity,  speed  and 
satisfaction  of  such  a  transaction  is  in  marked  contrast  to  the  usual 
delay  of  summoning  an  experienced  wireman  to  inspect  the  home, 
estimate  the  cost  at  the  company's  office  and  submitting  the  bid 
to  the  prospective  customer  by  mail.     The  enthusiasm  incident 
to  the  solicitor's  first  visit  often  dies  away  before  the  final  bid  is 
submitted  and  the  owner  may  alter  his  intentions.     With  cost- 
table  in  his  hand,  the  solicitor  upon  learning  what  outlets  and 
switches  the  householder  desires  installed  can  quickly  compute  the 
price  of  the  installation,  inform  the  owner  and  often  bring  the 
first  conference  to  a  close  with  a  signed  contract  in  his  pocket. 

44.  Description  of  an  Estimating  Blank  and  Its  Use.    The  form 
of  agreement  entered  into  between  householder  and  contractor 
during  the  Cleveland  campaign  contained  a  blank  on  the  hori- 
zontal lines  of  which  appeared  the  location  and  description  of  the 


SOLICITATION  29 

various  rooms  to  be  wired,  while  vertical  columns  were  provided 
for  notations  as  to  the  types  and  number  of  fixtures  and  switches. 
By  entering  check  marks  in  these  spaces  the  solicitor  was  able  to 
compute  the  required  outlets  quickly  and  had  a  simple  record  of 
the  location  of  each.  Figs.  20  and  21  (Par.  73)  show  estimating 
blanks  somewhat  similar  to  that  described  above. 

45.  Estimators    are    sometimes    necessarily    employed    in 
soliciting  business  of  certain  classes.    This  subject  is  also  referred 
to  in  another  paragraph.     Some  companies  have,  and  with  con- 
siderable success,  compiled  detail  estimates  for  every  job  in  which 
case  each  estimator  frequently  did  his  own  soliciting.     In  other 
cases  both  a  salesman  and  an  estimator  called  on  the  prospective 
customer.    Estimators  are  also  usually  required  in  communities 
where  an  aggressive  campaign  is  not  being  promoted  because  in 
such  cases  no  standardized  price  schedule  ordinarily  exists.     In 
such  instances,  where  only  one  man  may  be  required,  it  is  fre- 
quently possible  to  train  a  good  salesman  into  a  fairly  good 
estimator. 

46.  Personal  Requirements  of  the  Estimator.    A  man  who  is 
to  make  an  item-by-item  estimate  should  have   an    intimate 
knowledge  both  of  the  mechanics  of  finished-house  wiring  and  of 
the  materials  used.     He  will  have  little  time  left  to  present  selling 
arguments  to  the  householder  and  should  therefore  be  preceded 
by  a  soliciting  specialist.  .  As  elsewhere  suggested,  salesmen  are 
not  as  a  rule  experienced  wiremen  nor  are  technical  wiremen  good 
salesmen.     The  ideal  arrangement  is  to  put  the  wireman's  tech- 
nical information  in  condensed  form  so  that  the  salesman  can  carry 
it  with  him  in  soliciting  orders. 

47.  The  Estimator's  Work  in  a  Finished-building  Wiring 
Campaign. — When  an  inquiry  is  received  requesting  an  estimate 
on  the  cost  of  wiring  an  old  building,  an  estimator  is  sent  to  inter- 
view the  prospective  customer.     He  surveys  the  work  with  the 
prospect,  making  suggestions  as  to  locations  of  fixture  and  switch 
outlets  and  endeavors  to  plan  a  first-class  installation  and  one  that 
is  within  the  means  of  the  owner.     When  the  number  and  loca- 
tions of  the  outlets  are  determined  the  estimator,  from  notes 
taken  in  the  building  under  consideration,  fills  in  a  blank  estimate 
form,  which  is  so  prepared  that  it  makes  a  full  record  of  the  job 


30  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

from  start  to  finish.  The  estimator  then  prepares  a  detailed 
estimate  for  presentation  to  the  owner,  showing  just  what  the 
company  proposes  to  do  and  exactly  how  much  the  total  work  will 
cost.  These  estimates,  an  example  of  which  is  shown  in  Fig.  19, 
should  be  typewritten  in  duplicate.  One  is  mailed  or  is  presented 
to  the  prospect  by  a  salesman  and  the  other  is  filed. 

48.  Finished-building  Wiremen  as  Electrical-goods  Solicitors. 
It  was  found  during  the  campaign  in  Pittsburgh  that  old-building 
wiremen  are  excellent  solicitors  for  the  installation  of  auxiliary 
electrical  apparatus.  The  men  work  in  a  house  for  several  days 
and  are  very  likely  to  become  acquainted  with  the  occupants. 


SEPT.  7, 1911. 
MR.  JOHN  JONES, 

110  Hamilton  Street,  City. 
DEAR  SIR: 

Below  we  are  submitting  an  estimate  of  the  cost  of  electrical  Viring  to  be 
installed  at  the  above  address: 

riHST    FLOUR 

Pmh  —Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Single-Pole  snap  switch 
Ho/I.- Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  2  Three- Way  snap  .wilrhn. 
Parlor  —Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Double-Pore  snap  .witch. 
MaMHMal  -Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Double-Pole  map  >witch 
Kachn  -Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Double-Pole  .nap  sw.tch 
fmtr,  -Wire  for  one  center  outlet  Controlled  by  one  Double-Pole  >n>p  s.rtch 
CcUm  —Wire  for  one  cord  drop  controlled  by  one  Single- Pole  map  iwilch. 

SECOND   FLOOR 

Hatt  —Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  2  Three- Way  snap  switches 
Small  from  Bcdrovr.  -  Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Douple-Pole  .nap  swild, 
Larot  frml  Bedroom  —Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Double-Pole  map  iwittb 
Back  Bedroom  -Wire  for  one  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Double- Hole  »nap  iwitch 
Batlt  Harm  -Wire  for  ow  center  outlet  controlled  by  one  Double-Pole  anap  milch 
FOR  THE  SUM   OF  $68. 

If  this  estimate  is  satisfactory,  kindly  sign  the  attached  form,  and  return 
same  to  the  Light  Company.  The  amount  specified  on  this  estimate  is  sub- 
ject to  your  acceptance  until  Nov.  1,  after  which  time  all  estimates  forwirimr 
to  be  furnished  at  cost  will  be  void. 

Very  truly  yours, 

SALES  MANAGER. 


FIG.  19. — Typical  proposal. 

The  wiremen  often  have  opportunities  to  explain  the  convenience 
and  economy  of  energy-consuming  devices  such  as  vacuum 
cleaners,  fans,  washing  machines  and  electric  irons.  Considerable 
business  resulted  from  their  efforts.  In  certain  successful  in- 
stances premiums  and  cash  prizes  have  been  offered  wiremen  for 
securing  business  of  this  nature. 

49.  Methods  of  Solicitation  in  Germany.  Personal  canvassing 
is  considered  the  most  effective  means  of  advertising.  It  has 
been  found  important  in  soliciting  the  small  man's  business, 
especially  in  the  country,  that  the  prospective  customer  finds  in  the 
solicitor  a  man  of  about  his  own  education  and  possessing  his  own 
ways  of  thinking  and  talking.  Consequently  the  solicitors  are 


SOLICITATION  31 

mostly  chosen  from  the  staff  of  wiremen,  such  men  being  selected 
as  have  shown  a  certain  gift  of  speech  and  ability  for  handling 
men.  These  wiremen  go  out  with  their  uniform  caps  and  talk 
in  Low-German  dialect  to  the  customers,  thereby  obtaining  a 
better  hearing  from  the  latter.  (S.  E.  Doane,  Electrical  World, 
May  23,  1914.) 

50.  Cash  Premiums  as  a  Stimulant  to  Solicitors  (Electrical 
World,  July  11,1914).  By  giving  each  month  prizes  of  an  amount 
less  than  the  salary  of  one  salesman  working  on  the  house-wiring 
campaign  the  Louisville  Gas  &  Electric  Company  was  able  to 
secure  better  results  with  five  salesmen  than  were  previously 
obtained  with  eight.  These  solicitors  are  restricted  to  making 
contracts  for  the  wiring  of  finished  buildings. 

The  principal  prize  is  ^10  in  cash  for  what  is  termed  "  efficiency." 
The  number  of  calls  made  by  the  salesman  do  not  figure  in  this. 
The  winner  is  determined  by  (i)  the  amount  of  business  he  gets, 
computed  in  terms  of  kilowatt  hours,  (2)  the  amount  of  overtime 
he  puts  in,  (3)  the  neatness  of  his  reports,  (4)  his  promptness  in 
reporting,  and  (5)  the  absence  of  mistakes  in  his  contracts.  Record 
is  kept  on  a  blackboard  in  plain  view  of  all  the  employees  in  the 
office  so  that  each  man  may  know  each  day  just  where  he  stands 
with  respect  to  the  other  solicitors.  In  addition  $10  is  given  in 
weekly  prizes.  Only  the  volume  of  business  turned  in  during 
the  week  by  the  men  is  figured  in  the  award  of  these  weekly 
prizes.  The  man  who  gets  the  most  business  receives  the  $6 
prize  and  the  man  next  to  him  gets  $4.  It  was  found  that 
this  method  of  stimulating  salesmen  did  more  to  increase  their 
effectiveness  than  any  plan  previously  tried. 


CHAPTER  IV 
POLICIES 

51.  Definite  policies  should  be  adopted  prior  to  the  inaugura- 
tion of  a  finished-building  wiring  campaign.     The  central  station 
should  determine  in  advance  just  what  its  stand  will  be  on  certain 
features  that  recur  in  every  campaign  so  that  its  entire  procedure 
will  be  consistent  and  so  that  its  advertising  and  solicitation 
policies  will  be  in  harmony  with  the  general  plan.     Questions  of  a 
local  character  are  likely  to  arise  during  every  campaign.     Con- 
cerning these  there  may  be  no  precedents  by  which  one  may  be 
guided.     But  the  "recurring"  questions  have  been  decided  one 
way  or  the  other  so  many  times  that  experience  has  indicated  the 
best  solutions  for  the  average  cases.     The  questions  that  will  be 
classed  here  as  recurring  are:  (i)  Method  of  Payment,  (2)  Relations 
with  Contractors,  (3)  Basis  of  Prices,  (4)  The  Matter  of  Fixtures,  and 
(5)  The  Matter  of  Lamps.    Each  of  these  items  will  be  briefly 
discussed  in  paragraphs  that  follow.    Their  solutions  in  specific 
cases   will  be  found  in  paragraphs  in  the  chapter  "Examples  of 
Campaigns,"  and  in  other  sections  of  the  book.     (See  the  Index.) 

52.  Methods  of  Payment.     It  has  been  the  almost  universal 
experience  that,  for  a  successful  finished-building  wiring  campaign, 
the  central  station  must  arrange  a  means  of  financing  whereby 
the  consumer  can,  if  he  so  chooses,  pay  for  his  wiring  on  the 
installment  plan.     Appropriations  must  be  made  to  provide  for 
this  financing.     If  the  central  station  does  the  wiring,  the  con- 
sumer makes  an  initial  payment  of  possibly  20  per  cent,  (see  Par. 
67,  Muncie  campaign),  and  the  balance  is  paid  in  equal  monthly 
installments  extending  over  a  year,  more  or  less.     If  contractors 
are  co-operating  with  the  central  station  and  do  the  work,  it  is 
the  usual  practice  for  the  company  to  pay  the  contractor  cash  in 
full  upon  the  acceptance  of  the  job.     The  company  then  assumes 
the  account  and  the  consumer  makes  his  installment  payments  on 

32 


POLICIES  33 

about  the  basis  outlined  above.  Where  a  consumer  does  desire 
to  pay  cash  he  should  be  allowed  a  discount,  say  of  5  per  cent. 
The  discount  for  cash  should  not  be  too  great,  however,  because  if 
it  is  the  consumer  may  show  a  tendency  to  procrastinate  until  he 
has  sufficient  ready  money  to  make  the  cash  payment.  This  is 
undesirable  because  the  economical  and  satisfactory  procedure 
is  to  complete  each  prospect's  proposition  with  as  few  interviews 
and  estimates  as  possible. 

There  is  one  surprising  and  gratifying  circumstance  in  connec- 
tion with  this  matter  of  installment  payments.  It  is  that,  usu- 
ally, a  majority  of  the  installment  wiring  accounts  are  liquidated 
in  three  or  four  months,  whereas  the  consumers  may  have  a  year 
in  which  to  pay.  (See  Par.  63,  Kansas  City  Campaign  and  Par.  69, 
Marshalltown,  Iowa,  Campaign.)  The  bill  for  the  installment 
wiring  payment  is  usually  added  as  an  item  on  the  regular 
monthly  bill  for  electricity. 

53.  Relations  with  Contractors.  It  has  been  found  in  many 
instances  that  the  most  satisfactory  arrangement  is  for  the  cen- 
tral station  and  the  contractors  to  co-operate  rather  than  to  com- 
pete with  one  another  in  the  wiring  of  finished  buildings.  Some 
central  stations  have  had  and  now  have  wiring  departments  that 
do  finished-building  work  at  prices  that  admit  of  little  or  no 
profit,  particularly  if  the  important  matter  of  general  expense 
(see  Par.  83)  is  given  consideration.  In  other  cities,  finished- 
building  wiring  departments  are  maintained  by  the  central  sta- 
tions merely  to  handle  special,  unusually  intricate  jobs  that  the 
contractors  cannot  handle  except  at  prohibitive  prices.  The 
central  station's  men,  who  do  nothing  but  finished-building  work, 
become  so  skillful  at  it  that  they  can,  when  necessary,  make  a 
difficult  wiring  installation  at  considerably  less  cost  than  can  the 
contractor  who  handles  a  general  run  of  work. 

It  appears  to  be  the  general  opinion  among  those  best  informed 
that  the  most  effective  system  of  handling  finished-building  wiring 
is  (i)  for  the  central  station  to  agree,  with  the  local  contractors' 
association  or  with  a  group  of  contractors,  upon  a  standardized 
price  schedule  (see  Par.  75)  for  wiring;  (2)  the  central  station  so- 
licits the  wiring  business  on  the  basis  of  the  standardized  schedule 
assuming  all  solicitation  and  advertising  expense;  (3)  the  central 


34  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

station  apportions  equitably  the  business  thus  obtained  among 
the  contractors  with  whom  it  is  co-operating;  (4)  the  central 
station  pays  the  contractor  the  standardized  price  upon  the  com- 
pletion and  acceptance  of  the  job,  and  (5)  the  central  station 
assumes  the  account,  as  hereinbefore  explained,  and  receives  the 
payments  for  it  on  the  installment  plan,  if  the  consumer  so  desires. 

Experience  has  shown  that  business  can  be  obtained  at  prices 
that  are  sufficiently  high  as  to  allow  a  fair  profit  for  the  contractor. 
It  is  therefore  generally  unwise  for  a  central  station  to  embark 
in  a  house-wiring  business  unless  the  contractors  demand  un- 
reasonable profits.  The  contractors  can  give  material  assistance 
to  the  central  stations  and  for  this  reason,  even  if  the  ethical  con- 
siderations of  the  situation  are  disregarded,  they  should  not  be 
antagonized. 

In  apportioning  wiring  contracts  obtained  by  central-station 
solicitors  among  the  co-operating  contractors,  the  strictest  fair- 
ness should  be  observed.  Usually,  the  contractors  are  assigned 
the  contracts  in  rotation  as  they  are  turned  in  to  the  central 
station.  In  other  cases  (see  Par.  69c,  St.  Louis  Campaign)  it  has 
appeared  more  equitable  to  assign  each  contractor,  in  sequence, 
$100  worth  of  work.  In  Muncie,  Ind.  (Par.  67),  it  was  agreed 
that  the  company  could  award  a  number  of  contracts,  not  to 
exceed  ten,  for  jobs  all  in  one  vicinity,  to  one  contractor.  How- 
ever, every  other  contractor  was  to  receive  an  equal  amount  of 
business  before  the  first  man  received  more. 

In  compiling  a  standardized  wiring  schedule  the  prices  should 
be  sufficiently  high  that  it  is  certain  that  it  includes  ample  profit 
for  the  contractors.  Then  if  it  is  found  possible,  after  a  number 
of  installations  have  been  made,  the  prices  can  be  reduced. 

Contractors  sometimes  contend  that  unit  prices  are  not  fair 
to  them  because,  on  a  unit-price  basis,  they  may  profit  on  one  job 
and  lose  on  another.  If  the  contractor  will  consider  the  average 
profit,  that  is,  the  profit  on,  say,  all  of  the  jobs  for  a  month  and 
not  consider  individual  jobs,  this  possible  objection  will  disappear. 

54.  How  One  Central  Station  Company  Co-operates  with  the 
Contractors.  For  many  years  the  Company  offered  propositions 
whereby  finished  buildings  could  be  wired  for  electricity  and  the 
payments  therefor  could  be  made  in  installments.  The  pay- 


POLICIES  35 

ments  were  extended  over  a  two-year  term  and  were  included  in 
the  consumer's  monthly  bills.  An  arrangement  was  made  whereby 
similar  wiring  could  be  done  by  contractors  that  are  members  of 
the  local  Electrical  Association  under  the  same  terms  as  those 
offered  by  the  Company  to  the  consumer  direct.  The  Company's 
price  schedules  are  used  by  these  contractors.  The  company 
pays  the  contractor  cash  upon  the  completion  of  a  job  and  col- 
lects the  monthly  installments  from  its  customer.  In  the  mate- 
rial on  Advertising  the  methods  of  publicity  that  have  been  used 
by  the  Contractors'  Associations  are  explained.  The  prices  of 
a  standardized  schedule  should  allow  a  fair  profit  to  the  contractor. 
The  relations  between  the  company  and  the  contractors  should  be 
frictionless.  A  great  deal  of  finished-building  wiring  work  has 
been  secured  by  contractors  when  new-building  work  was  par- 
ticularly dull. 

55.  Estimating  and  Prices.     (See  Pars,   starting   with  71.) 
Some  companies  still  make  a  detail  time  and  material  estimate 
for  each  job.    The  prevailing  opinion,  however,  appears  to  be 
that  by  far  the  most  successful  and  satisfactory  method  is  to  use, 
where  possible,  standardized  price  schedules  so  that  every  one- 
consumer,  solicitor,  contractor,  and  all  others  that  are  interested — 
can  make  a  price  for  an  installation  without  calh'ng  in  any  other 
person. 

The  question  as  to  whether  it  is  better  to  adopt  a  flat  rate  per 
job  or  a  unit  price  per  outlet  schedule  is  discussed  in  Par.  76  and 
in  those  that  follow.  Some  central  stations  have  found  it  desir- 
able (see  102,  St.  Louis,  and  105,  Boston)  to  market  a  minimum 
wiring  installation  which  automatically  promotes  a  demand  on 
the  consumer's  part  for  additional  outlets.  Standardized  price 
schedules  are  of  little  value  for  store  and  factory  wiring.  Time 
and  material  estimates  should  be  made  for  work  of  this  class  and 
for  all  other  work  of  an  unusual  character. 

56.  Policy  in  Regard  to  Fixtures.    (See  chapter  on  "Fixtures. ") 
Some  companies  arrange  to  furnish  fixtures  for  their  wiring  in- 
stallations and  some  do    not.     High-class    fixtures — sometimes 
special  designs — are  usually  necessary  for  fine  residences,  and  it 
is  in  most  cases  best  to  suggest  that  the  consumer  arrange  to 
purchase  these  through  some  established  fixture  concern  or  job- 


36  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

bing  house.  For  the  home  of  the  person  of  moderate  income, 
fixtures  of  standard  design  that  are  produced  in  large  quantities 
by  the  manufacturers  are  very  acceptable.  They  can  be  purchased 
or  contracted  for  in  quantities  by  the  central  station  and  resold 
to  the  consumer  at  low  prices.  It  is  the  general  experience  that 
the  finished-building  wiring  contracts  can  be  obtained  more 
readily  if  fixtures  are  included.  The  average  consumer  desires 
a  complete  installation  and  likes  to  feel  that  the  central  station 
will  stand  back  of  it  all.  It  is  well  to  adopt  designs,  like  those 
of  Fig.  202,  that  can  be  readily  duplicated  by  any  fixture 
manufacturer. 

56a.  Solicitors  should  carry  pictures  and  prices  of  fixtures 
and  thereby  be  equipped  to  give  prospective  customers  prices  on 
installations  complete  with  fixtures.  It  is  assumed  that  every 
solicitor  carries  a  price  schedule  whereby  he  can  give  prices  on 
the  wiring  end  of  the  installation.  (See  chapter  on  "Solicitation") 

56b.  Free  Fixtures  as  a  Feature  of  a  Finished-building 
Wiring  Campaign.  The  Manchester,  N.  H.,  Traction  Light  & 
Power  Co.  conducted  a  successful  wiring  campaign  with  the  co- 
operation of  the  real  estate  dealers  and  wiring  contractors. 
Throughout  the  campaign,  which  lasted  a  month,  the  company 
furnished  free  fixtures  for  any  house  within  its  service  zone.  Pri- 
vate contractors  were  instructed  by  the  company  to  install  wiring 
on  this  basis,  the  company  meeting  the  fixture  cost.  The  pro- 
spective user  of  electricity  was  given  the  choice  of  several  fixture 
designs. 

56c.  Rental  of  Fixtures  in  Europe.  (S.  E.  Doane  in  1914, 
N.  E.  L.  A.  Report.)  At  Werdan,  Saxony,  the  wiring  is 
installed  at  the  expense  of  the  central  station,  if  the  customer 
so  desires.  In  that  case  he  pays  a  supplementary  charge  of 
3.6  cents  a  lamp  a  month  as  rent  for  the  installation,  which 
includes  simple  fixtures  but  not  lamps.  The  consumer  also 
must  contract  to  continue  these  payments  for  at  least  three 
years.  This  amount  of  3.6  cents  a  month  is  based  on  the  as- 
sumption that  15  per  cent,  of  the  average  selling  price  of  the  in- 
stallation shall  be  paid  off  every  year  by  the  rent.  The  average 
selling  price  has,  therefore,  been  assumed  as  being  $2.90  a  lamp 
outlet.  Flexible  twin  cord  is  chiefly  used  in  wiring  these  outlets. 


POLICIES  37 

Several  years  ago  the  municipal  plant  at  Dortmund  discovered 
that  there  were  a  number  of  residences  in  the  city  which,  though 
wired,  were  not  connected  to  its  lines.  In  the  city,  which  has 
150,000  inhabitants,  700  wired  houses  in  laborers'  quarters  were 
not  receiving  service.  The  reason  given  ordinarily  was  that 
electricity  was  "too  expensive,"  but  it  was  found  that  the  real 
reason  was  that  the  tenants  were  not  willing  to  incur  the  expense 
of  installing  electric  fixtures.  The  lighting  company  resolved 
to  rent  electric  fixtures  as  the  local  gas  company  had  already  been 
doing  with  gas  fixtures.  Thirteen  different  types  of  fixtures  are 
being  rented  at  prices  ranging  from  4  cents,  for  simple  ceiling 
fixtures  with  enamel  reflectors,  to  72  cents  per  month  for  elaborate 
chandeliers  for  four  lamps.  The  price  for  installing  is  48  cents. 
After  the  rent  has  been  paid  for  three  successive  years,  the 
tenant  acquires  ownership.  The  payments  which  are  designated 
by  the  company  as  rent  are  actually  installment  payments.  To 
prevent  dissatisfaction  among  the  contractors,  the  rents  are  fixed 
high  enough  so  that  a  three  years'  rent  amounts  to  the  list 
price  of  the  fixture,  the  list  prices  being,  moreover,  so  high 
that  discounts  of  from  60  per  cent,  to  70  per  cent,  are  ordinarily 
given. 

About  three  and  one-half  years  after  the  system  had  been  intro- 
duced, rental  contracts  for  1 1,300  fixtures  had  been  made,  of  which 
5500  were  contracted  for  in  the  last  year  alone.  It  was  possible 
to  fulfill  these  11,300  contracts  with  a  supply  of  only  10,500 
fixtures,  since  a  certain  number  had  been  returned  to  the  com- 
pany before  the  expiration  of  the  three  years  in  cases  where  the 
tenants  moved  out  of  town.  These  returned  fixtures  were 
polished  (and,  if  necessary,  repaired)  and  rented  a  second  time. 

57.  Policy  in  regard  to  furnishing  lamps  for  finished-building 
wiring  installations.  There  appears  to  be  no  established  prac- 
tice. However,  it  has,  apparently,  been  found  desirable  to  include 
lamps  in  the  flat  prices  for  complete  installations  for  small 
residences  (see  Par.  104,  Mobile).  It  appears  that  the  small- 
home  owner  prefers  to  have  the  price  that  is  given  him  include 
everything  that  is  required,  complete  and  ready  to  furnish  light. 
If  any  item  is  omitted  he  may  become  suspicious  and  desire  to 
procrastinate. 


38  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

57a.  The  controlled-flat-rate  method  of  charging  in  connec- 
tion with  finished-building  wiring  campaigns 1  appears  to  attract 
business  that  cannot  be  obtained  by  other  means.  A  flat  rate  of 
i  cent  per  watt  per  month  is  usually  adopted  in  this  country. 
The  minimum  monthly  charge  is  usually  $i.  A  current- 
limiting  device,  excess  indicator  or  flat-rate  controller  is  installed 
in  each  consumer's  residence  to  prevent  the  consumer  from  using 
more  than  the  maximum  current  to  which  he  is  entitled.  If  his 
load  exceeds  the  demand  for  which  his  excess  indicator  is  set,  the 
device  will  interrupt  the  circuit  periodically,  causing  the  lamps  to 
wink  until  the  load  is  reduced  to  within  the  value  for  which  the 
device  has  been  adjusted.  The  Excess  Indicator  Company  of 
Pittsburgh  manufactures  such  instruments.  They  cost  in  this 
country  from  $7.50  to  $4.50,  depending  on  the  quantity  fur- 
nished. In  Europe  they  are  much  cheaper. 

The  current-limiters  cost  much  less  than  watt-hour  meters — and 
with  the  limiters,  meter  reading  is  eliminated  and  the  cost  of 
accounting  is  minimized.  Hence  with  these  instruments  and  with 
low-cost  wiring,  it  is  possible  for  the  central  station  to  seek  and 
serve  with  profit  even  the  smallest  consumers.  Experience 
shows  that  a  large  proportion  of  these  flat-rate  consumers  ulti- 
mately change  over  to  a  meter  basis,  hence  the  method  is  very 
effective  in  introducing  and  popularizing  central-station  service. 
Meter  customers  seldom,  if  ever,  desire  to  change  to  a  flat-rate 
basis.  The  net  revenue  per  kilowatt  hour  is  usually  almost 
exactly  the  same  with  flat-rate  as  with  meter  customers.  If 
there  is  any  difference,  it  is  probable  that  the  flat-rate  customers 
will  be  the  most  profitable.  The  gross  revenue  from  controlled- 
flat-rate  consumers  averages  about  q£  per  kw-hr. 

The  controlled-flat-rate  method  of  charging  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  attracting  the  minor  consumers  in  Europe;  see  S.  E. 
Doane's  paper  (Par.  171):  "The  Successful  Handling  of  the 
Small  Customer  in  Europe.''1  In  the  United  States,  this  method 
of  charging  has  been  successfully  used  in  conjunction  with  fin- 
ished-building wiring  campaigns  in:  Pittsburgh,  Pa.;  Hartford, 
Conn.;  Scranton,  Pa.;  Harrisburg,  Pa.;  Muncie,  Ind.,  Par.  67, 
and  South  Bend,  Ind.,  Par.  66a. 

1  A.  T.  Holbrook,  Electrical  Review,  Oct.  3,  1914,  page  674. 


CHAPTER  V 
EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS 

68.  Examples  of  Finished-building  Wiring   Campaigns.    In 

paragraphs  that  follow  some  typical  examples  of  successful  cam- 
paigns are  briefly  outlined.  It  has  been  the  endeavor  to  select 
those  waged  in  cities  and  towns  from  the  largest  to  the  smallest, 
so  that  it  will  be  reasonably  certain  that  any  reader  will  find 
some  suggestions  that  apply  to  his  own  case.  The  electrical 
periodicals  should  be  watched  because  they  contain  in  almost 
every  issue  the  records  of  or  suggestions  from  some  campaign 
which  are  often  very  valuable. 

59.  H.  M.  Byllesby  Company  Campaigns.  This  organization 
operates  a  number  of  central  stations  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States  and  has  been  very  successful  in  increasing  its  busi- 
ness through  wiring  finished  buildings.  This  company  was  one 
of  the  first  in  this  country  to  appreciate  that,  though  the  small 
residence  is  of  little  importance  individually  to  the  central 
station,  in  the  aggregate  the  small  residences  constitute  a  splendid 
load.  The  policy  of  the  company  has  always  been  to  co-operate 
with  the  contractors.  The  business  was  obtained  largely  through 
advertising  and  personal  solicitation.  An  outline  of  some  of  the 
advertising  methods  are  given  in  Par.  35  and  in  the  following 
paragraphs. 

One  of  the  oest proofs  of  the  value  of  systematized  solicitation 
of  finished-building  wiring  contracts  was  found  at  Mobile,  Ala. 
(population,  51,500,  1910  census),  where  in  forty-five  days  660 
old  buildings  were  wired  and  added  to  the  company's  list  of  elec- 
tricity users.  This  is  the  more  remarkable  because  of  the  fact 
that  poor  negroes  who  constitute  about  half  the  city's  population 
formed  a  large  quota  of  those  who  took  advantage  of  the  wiring 
proposition.  See  Par.  104,  Mobile,  Ala.;  Pars.  50  and  64, 
Louisville;  and  the  two  following  paragraphs. 

39 


40 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


59a.  H.  M.  Byllesby  &  Company  "Premium"  Campaign  in 
Minneapolis.  The  Minneapolis  General  Electric  Company  is  the 
local  company.  The  campaign  almost  doubled  the  normal  vol- 
ume of  finished-buildings  wiring  business.  Any  customer  of  the 
company  securing  the  order  for  wiring  one  house  was  awarded  the 


Earn  An 

Electric  Premium 

By  Helping  Us 

Get  New  Customers 


Earn  An 
Electric  Premium 

By  Helping  Us 
Get  New  Customers 


Convince  Your  Friends 
That  they  Should  Wire  for  Electric  Light 


Ton.  can  talk  it  over  when  they  drop  In  for  an  evening  call.    Show  them  the  many  delightful   advantages  of  electria 

service  in  their  home— tell  th«m  how  much  it  costs,  and  just  what  you  think  of  its  home-making  value. 

If  yon  persuade  them  that  the  electric  way  is  the'right  way,  telephone  our  Sales  Department  giving  the  name  and  addrett 

of  your  friends  and  your  name  and  address. 

We  will  tend  a  representative  to  place  the  matter  before  them  in  its  practical  details.    It  we  succeed  in  getting  their 

order,  you  may  have  your  choice  of  the  following,  absolutely  free. 

Electric  Flatiron— Retail  value  $3.50 
Electric  Toaster— Retail  value  $3.50 
Electric  Table  Stove— Retail  value  $4.00 

Or  If  yen  develop  for  n»  two  nousewiring  orders  yon  may.  have  your  choice  of  two  of  the  above  or  a  beautiful  electrto 

eoffee  percolator— retail  value  $7.60. . 

TUi  plan  make*  H  eaiy  for  our  present  customers  to  obtain  electric  household  appliances  .without  cost.   Scores  have  dona 

*o' already.'  The  houixwiriug  businewims  had  a  sudden  burst  of  speed. 

fcust  be  on  onr  lines— must  be  occupied  and  consist  of  -buildings  already  constructed.    House* 
not'  included,  because  all  new  dwellings  have  electrical  equipment  installed  when  constructed. 

Call  up  our  Sales  Department  for  information  or  details 

telephones  Main  189  and  Center  132ft 

The  Minneapolis  General  Electric  Company 

"Pewooal  Attention  to  Every  Customer." 


FIG.  igA. — Newspaper  advertisement  explaining  the  "prernium" 
offer  of  the  Minneapolis  General  Electric  Company. 

choice  of  an:  (i)  electric  sad  iron,  (2)  electric  toaster,  (3)  an 
electric  table  stove.  For  securing  two  house-wiring  orders  the 
customer  was  given  an  electric  percolator. 

While,  under  normal  conditions  in  Minneapolis,  from  75  to  100 
finished-dwelling  wiring  contracts  were  secured  each  month,  this 
class  of  business  had  a  tendency  to  slump  during  the  summer  and 


EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS  41 

fall.  The  premium  campaign  reversed  this  tendency.  Premiums 
were  given  only  in  connection  with  contracts  for  finished  buildings 
on  existing  lines  of  the  company.  The  premium-seeking  con- 
sumer rendered  assistance  in  isolating  and  converting  the  pro- 
spective customer — usually  a  friend  or  acquaintance.  An  experi- 
enced salesman  was  sent  when  summoned  by  telephone  to  render 
aid.  If  the  salesman  closed  the  order,  the  consumer  was  given 
the  premium. 

During  a  campaign  of  less  than  four  months  685  finished  build- 
ings were  wired.  This  number  included  some  apartment 
buildings,  each  of  which  (although  each  one  contained  from  six 
to  fifty  new  customers)  was  counted  as  only  one  building. 

As  to  advertising:  During  the  first  month  of  the  campaign  the 
only  publicity  consisted  in  distribution  of  printed  circulars  that 
were  mailed  with  the  monthly  bills.  During  the  following  three 
months,  the  premium  plan  was  explained  by  forty-inch  newspaper 
advertisements  (Fig.  19^).  One  advertisement  was  printed 
each  week  in  each  of  three  daily  papers.  The  response  to  the 
newspaper  advertisements  was  gratifying.  Most  of  the  inquiries 
to  the  company  were  made  via  telephone.  The  advertisements 
were  so  written  as  to  appeal  to  the  housewives.  A  majority  of  the 
inquirers  were  women.  The  advertisements  brought  out  the 
thought  that  customers  of  the  company  could  easily  convince 
prospectives  because  they  knew  from  their  own  experience  the 
value  of  the  service. 

A  valuable  feature  of  the  campaign  was  that  it  promoted  the 
use  of  electric  household  appliances.  Every  premium  was  placed 
in  service  by  its  receiver  and  thus  became  a  revenue  producer  for  the 
company.  All  wiring  was  installed  by  the  regularly  established 
contractors  subject  to  their  regular  rates  and  terms  of  payment. 
No  cut  prices  on  fixtures  or  wiring  were  offered. 

Only  300  electrical  appliances  were  awarded  for  premiums  for  the 
685  orders  taken,  which  indicates  that  90  per  cent,  of  the  increased 
business  was  influenced  by  the  premium  offer.  A  comparative 
statement  of  the  finished-building  wiring  business  in  Minneapolis 
for  the  first  nine  months  of  1913  and  1914  is  given  in  the  following 
table.  Wiring  installations  in  stores  and  commercial  struc- 
tures are  not  included. 


42 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Period 

Number  of  buildings 
wired 

Percentage 
increase 

IQI3       |      1914 

January  to  June  
June. 

359 
104 

92 
82 
75 

442 
153 
149 
150 
233 

23 
47 
62 

83 

2IO 

July  
August. 

September  

69b.    The  H.  M.  Byllesby    Campaign   at   Louisville,    Ky. 

The  Louisville  Gas  &  Electric  Company  is  the  local  concern. 
The  campaign  started  with  a  half  page  newspaper  advertisement 
and  this  space  was  used  as  long  as  the  campaign  was  aggressively 
continued.  In  a  period  of  approximately  ten  months  1900  house- 
wiring  orders  were  obtained.  The  campaign  had  the  effect  of 
stimulating  the  independent  contractors  who  secured  a  large 
number  of  orders  independently  of  the  company.  During  a  pe- 
riod of  fourteen  months  the  number  of  electric  customers  was  in- 
creased 26  per  cent.  A  certain  proportion  of  this  increase  was  due 
to  normal  business — new  commercial  customers,  new  residences 
and  the  like — but  the  greater  proportion  of  this  increase  was  due  to 
the  finished-building  wiring  campaign. 

The  contractors  assumed  all  financial  responsibility.  As  will 
be  evident  from  a  study  of  the  contract,  Fig.  igB,  the  company 
was  not  a  party  to  the  wiring  agreement,  but  simply  acted  as  an 
agent  in  closing  the  contracts  for  the  customers.  The  contract- 
ors handled  the  installations  on  the  time-payment  plan,  accepting 
an  initial  payment  of  25  per  cent,  of  the  total  amount  upon  the 
completion  of  the  installation  and  the  balance  in  six  monthly 
payments.  Where  the  whole  amount  was  paid  in  cash,  a  dis- 
count of  10  per  cent,  was  allowed. 

The  company  confined  its  efforts  to  advertising  and  solicitation, 
giving  the  agreements  that  it  secured  to  the  contractors  for  exe- 
cution. The  agreement  form  was  ultimately  altered  somewhat 
from  that  shown  in  Fig.  19-8;  on  the  revised  form  were  given  the 
names  of  a  number  of  local  contractors  in  good  standing.  The 
wiring  jobs  were  apportioned  among  these  concerns.  The  solici- 
tation was  restricted  to  finished  residences  on  existing  lines  of  the 
company.  No  business  houses  were  wired  on  the  terms  indicated. 


EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS  43 

The  advertising  comprised  a  3o-inch  display  in  each  of  the  daily 
papers  once  each  week.  It  has  been  estimated  by  the  commercial 
department  of  the  company  that  at  least  75  per  cent,  of  the  house- 
wiring  orders  closed  originated  from  newspaper  advertisements. 


Application  for  Electric  House  Wiring 


The  undesigned... 


hereby  make  application  to« 

hereinafter  called  the  "Contractor,"  for  wiring  the  premises  and  installing  fixtures  as  listed  herein,  at  No 

in  accordance  with  the  specifications  and  schedules  endorsed  hereon  and  attached  hereto,  which 

are  incorporated  herein,  and  agree  to  pay  therefor  at  the  office  of  the  Contractor  the  sum  of • • 

Dollars  ($.,. )  as  follows: 

Twenty-five  (25%)  or Dollar!  ($ )  on  completion  of 

work  and  the  balance  !n  twelve  (12)  equal  monthly  payments,  or ....,....'. •. Dollars   ($ ) 

on  or  before  the  first  of  each  month  following,  until  the  whole  amount  has  been  paid.    Failure  to  meet  payments  when  doe  shall 
reader  the  deferred  payment  feature  of  this  contract  void,  and  the  remaining  payments  on  said  contract  shall  become  due  and 

A  discount  of  ten  per  cent.  (10%)  from  the  above  contract  price  will  be  allowed,  provided  full  payment  is  made  within  ten 
(10)  days  from  the  date  of  completion  of  installation. 

It  is  mutually  agreed  that  in  event  of  any  modification  of  the  installation  specified  herein,  the  amount  of  thi»  contract  shall 
fee  revised  in  accordance  with  the  Schedule  of  Prices  incorporated  herein. 

GENERAL  SPECIFICATIONS 

All  material  furnished  and  work  done  under  these  specifications  shall  be  in  accordance  with  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of 
the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  as  contained  in  the  latest  Electric  Code.  . 

The  Contractor  shall  give  to  the  proper  authorities  Ml  necessary  notices  relative  to  the  work  and  shall  secure  the  approval 
of  the  City  Electrical  Inspector  required  to  enable  the  Applicant  to  obtain  service. 

The  Contractor  shall  furnish  and  install  main  switch  and  all  necessary  fused  cut-outs. 

The  Contractor  shall  run  all  necnsary  wires  from  point  of  service  outside  of  building  and  shall  make  all  necessary  provision 
'  for  the  installation  and  connection  of  the  meter  tn  accordance  with  the  rules  of  the  Lighting  Company  supplying  current. 

The  owner  or  tenant  shall  remove  and  relay  all  carpets,  rugs  or  other  floor  coverings,  necessary  to  install  wires. 

The  applicant  must  locate  all  outlets  for  fixtures,  switches,  receptacles  and  drop  cords  before  wiring  is  started  and  the  Con- 

We  will  do  all  necessary  cutting  of  floors  'and  plaster,  and  will  repair  the  floors,  leaving  them  in  as  good  condition  as  possible, 
but  it  is  understood  that  all  patching  of  plaster  and  wall  paper  and  all  retouching  of  decorations  is  to  be  done  at  property 
owner's  expense. 

It  is  understood  and  agreed  that  in  the  event  of  default  in  the  payment  of  any  installments  when  due,  or  of  the  sale  of  the 
land  or  building  at  said  address,  we  may,  at  our  option,  declare  all  of  the  unpaid  sums  to  be  due  and  payable  at  once,  and  may 
at  once  sue  for  and  recover  the  same  in  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction. 

This  proposal  shall  not  be  binding  upon  the  Company  until  accepted  in  writing  by  one  of  its  officers. 

fixtures  are  to  be  finished  in : 

The  price  of  the  above  work,  complete  as  specified,  is <* >   Dollars. 

For  wiring  to  outlet,  ooly..... : ^. *  

Switches  ...-..; 

Drop  Cords.  Receptacles,  etc 

Additional  for  emergency  circuit 

Fixtures   


Total  t 


FIG.  igB. — Face  of  application  form  used  in  the  Louisville,  Ky.,  Gas  and 
Electric  Company's  Campaign. 

Fig.  igC  shows  the  unit  price  schedule  adopted  which  was  printed 
on  the  reverse  side  of  the  contract  form.  Pars.  50  and  64  give 
additional  information  relating  to  this  campaign. 


44 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


69c.  Campaigns  of  the  Union  Electric  Light  &  Power  Company, 
St.  Louis  (population,  687,000;  1910  census).  A  campaign  con- 
ducted from  January  i,  1913,  to  Nov.  i,  1913,  resulted  in  the  con- 


WIRING  SPECIFICATIONS  AND  SCHEDULE  OF  PRICES 

CHARGE  FOR  INSPECTION  IN  COUNTY 

LOCATION 

Ceiling  Outlet 

, 
Bracket  Outlet 

Wall  Switch 
including 
Snap  Switch 

& 

«-s 

I] 

!i* 
if 

M.  M.  Bracket 
Brick  Wall 

n 
„«- 

a-gS 

5«I 

!« 

Concealed 
Flush  Switch 
Brick  Wall 

Open  Worfc 
per  outlet 

M 
*I 

F 

PRICE  BACH 

»3.00 

$3.00 

$2.75 

16.00 

fJ.OO 

$3.50 

$3.50 

»4.50 

»5.65 

$1.50 

$2.50 

Porch    

Vestibule    „ 

Reception  Hall   

Library  

Dining  Room  

Pantry    
Kitchen 

; 

Basement 

•Rlar  Hall   

........ 

JJpper  Rear  Hall  ......... 

Bed  Room  '... 

Flush  Switches  and  Flus! 
Four,  Five  or  Six.  Outlet 
Drop  Cords,  $1.10.  ...... 
Key  Recpts.,  $1.00.  
Pendant  Fixture  Switch, 
Pull  Sockets,  25  cents  per 
Ham  Attachments,  35  ceo 
Wood  Moulding.  $2.00  per 

Base  Board  Recpts,  $1.00 
Contract,  at  $3.50  per  Outle 

extra  eac 

' 

—  

Socket  t 

' 

Outlet. 

Louisville,  Kjr.-i.TTi-..,. 
Y  hereby  repreaent  th. 

premises,  and  that  the  title  to  atand  i 

Owatr   

,  ,  191...-. 

t  wj'am'  ""  owner"-  •  o1  "M 
our  _.m.. 
my  """ 

By    Pres'idVnr" 

FIG.  igC. — Reverse  side  of  form  shown  in  Fig.  igB.     This  shows  the  price 
schedule  adopted. 

nection  of  more  than  5000  new  residence  patrons.  A  monthly 
minimum  charge  of  50  cents  for  residence  service  has  been  adopted. 
The  company  makes  liberal  use  of  newspaper  advertising  space. 


EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS  45 

Typical  advertisements  are  illustrated  elsewhere.  Circularizing 
and  personal  solicitation  are  also  used  extensively. 

In  a  more  recent  campaign  the  price  schedule  shown  in  Par.  102 
was  used.  The  wiring  is  done  by  contractors  but  the  company 
guarantees  their  work.  In  the  contract  covering  the  work  the 
price  of  the  first  item  carries  the  entire  overhead  cost.  Should 
the  prospective  customer  contend  that  he  does  not  wish  all  of  the 
outlets  in  the  first  item,  he  is  informed  that  the  cost  will  be  $17.95 
whether  all  of  the  outlets  are  installed  or  not.  The  result  is  that 
all  of  the  outlets  are  installed  and  the  use  of  appliances  is  thus 
stimulated. 

Formerly  the  company  in  co-operating  with  the  contractors 
in  the  city  gave  each  a  job  in  turn.  The  present  policy  is  to  give 
each  contractor  in  turn  $100  worth  of  business  regardless  of  whether 
it  is  made  up  of  one  or  several  jobs.  In  this  way  the  company 
hopes  to  distribute  the  work  more  equitably  among  the  various 
contractors.  In  case  a  contractor  receiving  work  from  the  new- 
business  department  of  the  company  has  no  credit  or  responsi- 
bility, the  central  station  requires  him  to  furnish  a  bond  in  order 
that  it  shall  not  suffer  loss  should  his  work  on  its  contracts  fail 
to  give  satisfaction. 

60.  Campaign  in  Boston,  Mass,  (population,  670,000;  1910 
census.  A  population  of  1,000,000  is  served  by  the  company  if 
the  suburbs  and  towns  supplied  are  included).  Standardized 
price  schedules  (Par.  105)  were  used  which  enabled  any  employee 
of  th  company  to  estimate  the  cost  of  wiring  a  house  immedi- 
ately upon  inquiry  without  the  assistance  of  a  contractor  or  an 
experienced  wireman.  Every  employee  could  tell  specifically 
just  what  a  partial  or  complete  job  would  cost  if  he  knew  the 
number  of  rooms,  the  number  of  lighting  outlets,  switches  and 
baseboard  receptacles  required. 

The  buildings  were  wired  by  accredited  local  contractors. 
Though  the  basic  offer  (Par.  105)  was  for  one  outlet  at  $14.35, 
very  few  one-outlet  contracts  were  made  because  of  a  well-directed 
effort  on  the  part  of  the  company  toward  securing  a  complete 
wiring  contract.  This  was  effected  by  leading  the  applicant  along 
step  by  step  and  showing  him  by  detailed  prices  how  much  more 
he  could  secure  by  a  little  larger  payment.  Care  also  was  taken 


46  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

to  point  out  that  the  cost  of  the  work  would  be  less  if  all  the  out- 
lets were  installed  at  the  same  time.  Much  co-operation  was 
obtained  from  the  contractors  by  means  of  a  plan  whereby  the 
company  pays  the  contractor  $2  per  customer  plus  25  cents  per 
outlet  installed. 

The  installment  plan  adopted  required  an  initial  payment  of 
$2.35,  followed  by  monthly  payments  of  $2  each  for  a  period  of 
six  months — after  the  signing  of  the  contract — covering  the  cost 
of  one  outlet  for  a  total  of  $14.35.  Customers  were  permitted 
to  extend  their  payments  to  a  maximum  of  twenty  months;  in 
case  this  monthly  payment  exceeded  $5,  greater  extension  of 
time  was  permitted  than  with  smaller  payments.  The  business 
that  has  been  received  in  Boston  through  finished-building  wir- 
ing campaigns  amounted  in  twelve  months  to  1247  houses  and 
$105,850  of  wiring.  The  fixtures  used  in  the  Boston  campaign 
are  illustrated  in  Fig.  202.  In  one  campaign  in  Boston  769 
houses  were  wired  in  seven  months.  The  average  price,  per 
house,  for  wiring  was  $83.50. 

60a.  Campaign  of  the  Edison  Electric  Illuminating  Company 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.1  (see  Par.  lOla  for  price  schedule).  A  re- 
quirement of  the  proposition  was  that  the  kitchen  was  always 
included  in  any  wiring  installation.  This  room  was  selected  as  a 
basis  for  all  prices  because  it  was  assumed  that  electricity  would 
be  used  more  in  the  kitchen  than  in  any  other  room.  One  room 
having  been  wired,  the  price  of  wiring  the  balance  is  relatively 
low.  Hence  the  small  charge  for  additional  rooms  is  an  induce- 
ment for  the  consumer  to  equip  his  entire  house. 

As  to  terms:  For  wiring  any  combination  of  rooms,  the  com- 
pany required  an  initial  payment  of  not  less  than  8  per  cent,  of 
the  total  cost.  Minimum  monthly  payment  $2.  Maximum 
period  of  monthly  payments:  $2  to  $2.99,  twelve  months;  $3  to 
$3.99,  fifteen  months;  $4  to  $4.99,  eighteen  months;  $5.00  and 
above,  twenty  months.  Payments  were  in  no  case  allowed  to 
extend  over  a  period  of  twenty  months. 

The  price  schedule  was  based  on  averages  of  bids  submitted  by 
several  reliable  contractors.  A  majority  of  the  local  contractors 
were  willing  to  do  the  work  at  the  prices  listed  (Par.  lOla).  A 

1  Electrical  World,  Oct.  31,  1914. 


EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS  47 

booklet  containing  a  list  of  contractors  and  fixture  dealers  was 
furnished  by  the  company  to  any  person  contemplating  the  instal- 
lation of  wiring.  The  work  was  apportioned  as  fairly  as  possible 
among  the  various  contractors.  Where  in  soliciting  their  own 
business,  contractors  encounter  a  person  who  does  not  care  to  pay 
cash  down,  he  is  referred  to  the  easy  payment  plan  described. 
Under  this  proposition,  the  contractor  furnishes  the  material  for 
wiring  and  installs  the  equipment  while  the  central-station  com- 
pany supplies  the  fixtures. 

61.  Campaigns  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  (population,  533,000;  1910 
census).  (J.  E.  McKirdy,  in  a  paper  "  The  Wiring  of  Old  Houses  " 
read  before  the  Pennsylvania  Electrical  Association,  1912  con- 
vention.) The  advertising  methods  used  are  outlined  in  Par. 
36.  In  1911,  4000  free  estimates  were  made  and  1055  contracts, 
equivalent  to  19,124  lamps  of  16  c.p.,  were  secured.  In  the  first 
six  months  357  houses  were  wired,  equivalent  to  6393  lamps  of 
16  c.p.  In  the  last  six  months  698  houses  were  wired,  equivalent 
to  12,733  lamps  of  16  c.p.,  giving  an  average  installation  per  house 
of  eighteen  i6-c.p.  lamps. 

In  the  first  six  months  of  1912,  free  estimates  numbering  985 
were  made,  compared  with  555  estimates  made  to  the  same  day  in 
1911.  From  these  were  secured  569  contracts,  equivalent  to  9008 
lamps  of  1 6  c.p.,  giving  an  average  per  house  of  seventeen  lamps. 
These  figures  include  266  stores.  In  the  first  six  months  of  1911, 
contracts  numbering  106  were  given  to  wiring  contractors, 
whereas  in  the  same  period  in  1912,  401  contracts  were  so 
placed. 

It  was  realized  by  the  company  that  it  would  be  poor  policy, 
both  from  an  ethical  and  a  business  standpoint,  to  adopt  any  plan 
that  would  antagonize  the  local  electrical  contractors.  Hence  the 
company  co-operated  with  the  contractors  wherever  possible. 
Although  many  buildings  were  wired  by  the  company's  own  wire- 
men,  many  jobs  have  been  sublet  to  contractors.  The  contractors 
are  paid  by  the  company  in  thirty  days,  but  the  customer  is  per- 
mitted to  pay  in  monthly  installments  extending  over  a  period  of  a 
year.  The  company  does  all  soliciting  and  estimating  and  as- 
sumes all  expense  in  connection  therewith,  relieving  the  contractor 
of  all  costs  except  those  involved  in  actually  doing  the  work. 


48  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

In  general,  the  company  wires  only  houses  that  contractors 
cannot  wire  with  profit  at  the  rates  at  which  the  company  is  doing 
wiring.  Inasmuch  as  the  company's  men  wire  old  buildings  ex- 
clusively, they  have  become  so  expert  at  this  work  that  they  are 
able  to  make  installations  that  would  ordinarily  be  considered 
impossible  of  execution. 

The  inauguration  of  the  campaign  brought  a  protest  from  a 
committee  of  wiring  contractors  who  contended  that  the  central 
station  was  threatening  the  destruction  of  their  business.  It  was 
explained  to  the  contractors  that  a  large  number  of  houses  had 
remained  unwired,  either  through  their  lack  of  effort  to  wire  them 
or  their  supposed  excessive  charges  for  wiring  and  that  the  illumi- 
nating company  proposed  to  get  this  business  on  its  lines.  The 
contractors  were  informed  that  the  illuminating  company  would 
give  them  any  of  the  contracts  they  desired,  besides  assuming  the 
expense  of  soliciting  the  business,  making  the  estimates  and  secur- 
ing the  contracts. 

Many  of  the  contractors  accepted  this  proposition  and  in  1911 
they  were  given  473  contracts,  amounting  in  excess  of  $20,000. 
The  campaign  stimulated  the  wiring  contractors  to  greater  efforts 
to  secure  business.  The  result  was  that  many  houses  were  wired 
by  contractors  of  which  the  company  knew  nothing. 

62.  The  group  method  of  securing  new  business,  employed  by 
the  Duquesne  Light  Company,  and  explained  by  H.  H.  Wood 
in  his  paper,  Wiring  Old  Houses,  read  before  the  Pennsylvania 
Electrical  Association  Convention  of  1912,  provides  a  good 
example  of  the  benefits  a  lighting  company  may  reap  from  a 
finished-building  wiring  campaign.  Thus,  a  group  of  twenty 
old  houses,  averaging  six  rooms  each,  in  a  suburb  that  had 
not  previously  been  served  with  electricity,  was  wired.  Gas 
mains  did  not  reach  the  group  and  the  residents  used  coal-oil 
lamps.  The  group  was  located  possibly  1/4  mile  from  the 
company's  pole  lines.  One  resident  made  a  request  for  an 
estimate  for  wiring  his  house.  The  estimator  explained  it  would 
not  be  very  profitable  to  run  a  pole  line  1/4  mile  long  to  serve  one 
consumer-,  while  if  it  were  possible  to  secure  several  the  lighting 
company  would  doubtless  build  a  pole  line  to  serve  the  group. 
On  this  basis  the  estimator  secured  twenty  contracts. 


EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS  49 

63.  A  Kansas  City  campaign  (population,  250,000;  1910 
census).  Contracts  were  executed  by  the  company.  The  wir- 
ing was  done  by  contractors.  The  schedule  in  Par.  108  shows 
the  company's  prices  on  time-payment  contracts.  A  customer 
desiring  to  pay  cash  was  given  a  lower  bid.  This  schedule  of 
prices  was  approved  by  the  contractors  and  was  so  drawn  as  to 
allow  them  a  fair  profit.  Later  the  list  of  prices  was  reduced 
25  per  cent.  The  average  price  of  wiring  a  finished  home  in 
Kansas  City  was  found  to  be  $45. 

The  advertising  methods  comprised  a  liberal  use  of  newspaper 
space  and  the  circularization  of  a  splendid  list  of  about  10,000 
prospects.  It  was  assumed  that  any  residence  that  could 
afford  a  telephone  could  afford  electric  light.  The  telephone 
directories  were  scrutinized  and  the  addresses  of  all  telephone 
subscribers  that  did  not  have  electric  lights  were  thereby  ob- 
tained. The  nucleus  of  a  large  mailing  list  was  thus  secured. 
It  was  found  that  personal  solicitation  was  the  most  effective 
factor  in  obtaining  business.  Experience  indicated  that  the  best 
way  for  a  solicitor  to  obtain  the  business  was  for  him  to  sys- 
tematically canvass  his  district  several  times.  The  second  and 
third  calls  of  the  solicitors  were  more  productive  than  the  first. 

63 a.  An  Effective  Double-socket  Kitchen-or-Laundry  Wiring 
Plan  used  in  Kansas  City.  The  Kansas  City  Electric  Light 
Company  offered  to  wire  any  residence  kitchen  or  residence 
laundry  for  one  double  socket  and  furnish  an  electric  iron  and  a 
lamp  for  $12.  This  amount  was  payable  $i  down  and  $i  per 
month  for  eleven  succeeding  months.  The  wiring,  socket,  inspec- 
tion, in  fact  everything  was  furnished  on  receipt  of  the  initial 
payment  of  $i.  The  lamp  for  lighting  could  be  fed  from  one 
of  the  sockets  and  the  iron — or  any  other  heating  device — from 
the  other  socket.  The  plan  has  been  extremely  successful. 
Approximately  half  of  the  inquiries  received  in  relation  to 
the  proposition  developed  into  contracts  for  wiring  the  entire 
house.  The  company  believes  that  in  practically  every  instance 
where  a  double-socket  installation  has  been  made,  the  entire 
building  will  ultimately  be  wired. 

The  company  financed  prospective  customers  who  could  not 
afford  to  pay  in  one  lump  sum  the  entire  cost  of  a  wiring 

4 


50  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

installation.  The  contracts  secured  by  the  lighting  company's 
solicitors  were  awarded  in  rotation  to  three  contractors, 
each  contractor  receiving  every  third  job  regardless  of  its  size  or 
character.  At  the  completion  of  the  installation  they  were  paid 
in  full  by  the  lighting  company.  The  new  customer  then  had 
the  privilege  of  paying  the  electric-service  company  for  the  wiring 
in  twelve  equal  monthly  payments.  Although  the  company 
offered  to  finance  customers  for  a  period  of  twelve  months,  the 
majority  of  the  accounts  were  settled  in  full  within  periods  of 
from  three  to  four  months.  When  the  system  of  financing  cus- 
tomers' installations  was  adopted  it  was  estimated  that  within 
thirty  months  the  company  would  have  $100,000  invested  in 
wiring,  but,  owing  to  the  desire  of  consumers  to  pay  in  full,  the 
sum  involved  was  only  approximately  $20,000.  Some  2600 
houses  were  wired  within  a  thirty-month  period. 

64.  A  Campaign  in  Louisville,  Ky.  (population,  224,000;  1910 
census).     The  city  has  about  40,000  dwellings.     Of  this  number 
15,000  are  now  connected  to  the  Louisville  Gas  &  Electric  Com- 
pany's  lines.     The   average   cost   of    the   wiring   and   fixtures, 
complete  with  4o-watt  lamps,  has  been  $36.40  per  house.     For 
campaign  purposes  the  city  was  divided  into  five  districts.     Each 
was  covered  by  and  in  charge  of  a  salesman  who  devoted  all  of  his 
time    to    finished-building    contracts.     See    also   Pars.    50   and 
59b,  for  a  more  complete  description  of  this  campaign. 

65.  A  two-month  campaign  for  wiring  finished  buildings  hi 
Toledo,  O.  (population,  168,500;  1910  census)  was  inaugurated 
by  the  Railway  and  Light  Company  of  that  city  in  November  of 
1913.     During  the  first  few  weeks  an  average  of  fifteen  houses 
were  wired  each  day.     As  the  campaign  progressed  the  results 
increased  daily. 

66.  In   Harrisburg,  Pa.   (population,   64,000;   1910  census), 
550  finished  houses  were  wired  in  1913  due  to  the  efforts  of  the 
central-station  company.     A  number  of   these  consumers  were 
on  a  flat-rate  basis  with  a  current-limiting  device  but  more  than 
25  per  cent,  of  them  applied  for  meter  service. 

66a.  A  Campaign  at  South  Bend,  Ind.1  (population  53,700, 
1910  census).     See  Par.  108a  for  price  schedule.     The  Indiana 
1  Electrical  World,  Oct.  3,  1914,  page  672. 


EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS  51 

and  Michigan  Electric  Company  inaugurated  this*  campaign  to 
secure  the  possible  business  in  portions  of  the  city  where  the 
smaller  residences  are  located.  A  controlled-flat-rate  (Par.  57a) 
method  of  charging  was  adopted.  South  Bend  has  many 
factories  and  a  larger  proportion  of  foreign  population  than  a 
majority  of  American  cities  of  the  same  size;  about  33  per  cent, 
of  the  population  are  foreign  laborers.  The  average  wage  of 
these  people  probably  does  not  exceed  $1.50  to  $1.75  a  day. 
It  is  obvious  that  the  cost  of  electric  service  and  wiring  for  people 
of  such  incomes  must  be  low. 

The  combination  of  the  flat-rate  method  of  charging  and  the 
low  price  wiring  comprised  an  offer  that  could  be  considered  by 
any  home  owner  or  renter.  The  flat  rate  for  lighting  is  i  cent  a 
watt  a  month,  based  on  66  per  cent,  of  the  connected  load.  The 
minimum  allowable  connected  load  is  100  watts.  The  maximum 
connected  load  on  a  flat-rate  contract  was,  for  the  time  being,  set 
at  400  watts.  A  Polish  solicitor  was  retained  to  work  among 
people  of  his  own  nationality  and  to  assist  the  English  speaking 
solicitors.  A  former  campaign,  which  however  did  not  involve 
the  flat-rate  method  of  charging,  resulted  in  the  wiring  of  about 
1000  finished  houses. 

67.  Campaign  at  Muncie,  Indiana  (population,  24,000;  1910 
census).  The  Muncie  Electric  Light  Company  co-operated  with 
six  representative  contractors.  The  contractors  agreed  upon  the 
prices  shown  in  the  schedule  of  Par.  108.  It  was  also  agreed  that 
the  company  should  receive  10  per  cent,  of  the  gross  price  for  each 
contract  that  it  handled  on  the  installment  plan.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion of  a  job  and  the  city  inspector's  approval  the  contractor 
was  paid  in  full  by  the  lighting  company.  As  shown  in  the 
schedule,  the  customer  pays  the  company  20  per  cent,  of  the 
amount  of  the  bill  in  cash.  The  remainder  is  generally  paid  in 
ten  equal  monthly  installments,  but  in  special  cases  a  longer  time 
and  smaller  payments  may  be  allowed. 

The  contracts,  irrespective  of  their  size,  are  assigned  to  the 
contractors  in  rotation.  However,  in  order  to  keep  the  con- 
tractors' expenses  at  a  minimum,  the  company  may  award  a 
number  of  contracts  in  a  certain  part  of  town  to  some  one  con- 
tractor. He  is  thereby  saved  the  expense  of  rehauling  tools  and 


52  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

material.  Not  more  than  ten  contracts  can  be  thus  awarded  in 
a  group.  When  one  contractor  has  received  a  group  of  con- 
tracts in  one  vicinity  he  is  not  awarded  any  additional  con- 
tracts until  the  other  co-operating  concerns  have  received  an 
equal  number. 

Contracts  were  accepted  on  the  controlled-flat-rate  basis, 
Par.  57a,  hence  owners  of  even  the  smallest  homes  availed  them- 
selves of  the  company's  offer.  The  ratio  of  population  to  con- 
sumers in  Muncie  is  approximately  six  to  one.  In  spite  of  this, 
forty-five  contracts  were  secured  during  the  first  month  that  the 
plan  was  in  operation.  (Electrical  World,  July  n,  1914.) 

68.  A  finished -building    wiring    campaign    in    Butler,    Pa. 
(population,  20,700;  1910  census),  conducted  by  the  Butler  Light, 
Heat  and  Motor  Company.     The  standard  proposition  offered  by 
the  company  covered   the  wiring  of  six   rooms,  complete  with 
cord  drops,  25- watt  Tungsten  lamps  and  shades  for  $21.     No 
switches  were  included  in  the  offer.     During  a  two-month  cam- 
paign the  company  with  the  assistance  of  the  contractors  wired 
no  houses.     Seventy-three  of  these  were  either  partly  or  wholly 
equipped  with  room  switches  at  additional  cost  to  the  owner. 

69.  A  campaign  at  Marshalltown,  Iowa  (population,  13,500; 
1910  census),  conducted  by  the  Iowa  Railway  and  Light  Company 
which  owns  the  property,  was  quite  successful.     The  results  as 
given  in  Electrical  World  are  shown  in  Table  14.     Contractors,  co- 
operating, agreed  upon  a  fixed  price  for  the  wiring  installation 
that  was  featured.     Advertising  was  confined  exclusively  to  this 
"bargain"  in  wiring,  the  price  being  $22.50  for  any  four  rooms, 
including  wiring,  two  two-lamp  fixtures,  two  drop  cords  and  a 
lamp  for  each  fixture.     The  company  paid  all  advertising   and 
soliciting  charges.     Boys  were  employed  to  distribute  handbills 
and  inquiry  cards  throughout  the  city.     The  prospect  list  was 
built  from  those  of  the  cards  that  were  returned.     Although  the 
contractors  agreed  to  allow  customers  to  pay  for  the  wiring  on  the 
installment  plan,  the  payments  to  extend  over  a  period  of  five 
months,  more  than  50  per  cent,  of  the  business  was  settled  on  a 
cash  basis  or  paid  within  thirty  days.  -  A  total  residence  wattage 
of  34,285  was  secured  and  ninety-one  wiring  contracts,  aggregating 
$2,431.40,  were  given  to  the  contractors. 


EXAMPLES  OF  CAMPAIGNS  53 

70.  The  Citizens  Gas  &  Electric  Company  of  Mt.  Vernon,  HI. 

(10,000  population),  a  Henry  L.  Doherty  property,  has  been  very 
successful  in  wiring  finished  buildings,  particularly  residences, 
using  the  price  schedule  given  in  Par.  109.  Contractors  do  the 
wiring.  The  company  pays  the  contractors  cash  and,  if  desired, 
carries  the  account  for  one  year  for  the  customer,  permitting  him 
to  pay  on  the  installment  plan.  The  company  has  been  most 
successful  in  equipping  the  houses  wired  with  drop  cords  and 
sockets  instead  of  with  fixtures.  This  is  true  particularly  of  the 
three-  and  four-room  cottages  of  which  there  are  many  in  Mt. 
Vernon.  Later,  if  the  consumer  desires,  he  can  purchase  fixtures 
from  the  local  contractors  who  follow  him  up  in  connection  with 
this  point.  The  existing  unwired  buildings  are  being  wired  at 
the  rate  of  about  600  per  year.  Special  newspaper  advertise- 
ments were  used  with  great  effect. 


CHAPTER  VI 
COSTS  AND  PRICES 

71.  There  are  two  methods  of  determining  costs  and  prices 
for  finished-building  wiring.    The  first  is  by  detail  estimating. 
The  other  is  by  using  unit  or  "standardized"  prices,  which  are 
average  values  ascertained  either  through  experience  or  by  re- 
ferring to  actual  cost  figures  of  jobs  that  have  been  completed. 
Each  of  the  methods  will  be  discussed  in  following  paragraphs. 

72.  Detail  Estimates  and  Their  Compilation.    The  estimator, 
who  should  be  an  experienced  wireman,  carefully  surveys  the 
premises  and  compiles  a  detail  schedule  of  all  the  material  re- 
quired.    Then  the  labor  necessary  is  estimated,  and  the  profit 
and  overhead  charge  are  added.     The  resulting  estimate  will 
appear  something  like  that  of  90.     It  is  obvious  that  in  preparing 
many  detail  estimates  there  are  items  and  groups  of  items  that 
are  used  repeatedly.     The  estimator  will  make  a  list  of  such 
groups  and  their  unit  prices  to"  save  himself  time  and  work  and 
thus,  even  in  preparation  of  detail  estimates,  standardized  or  unit 
prices  are  used  to  a  large  extent.     Detail  estimates  have  the 
advantage  of  accuracy  but  they  require  technical  skill  and  con- 
siderable time  for  their  preparation.     It  may  require  consider- 
able time  after  the  wireman  has  made  his  survey  before  he  can 
submit  his  estimate.     Meanwhile  the  prospect  may  have  de- 
cided that  he  does  not  want  wiring.     The  first  man  who  calls  on 
the  prospect  should  be  able  to  quote,  and  furthermore  he  should 
be  a  salesman  rather  than  a  wireman-estimator ;  hence  the  almost 
universal  adoption  of  unit  prices.     The  unit  prices  should  be 
such  that  the  salesman  with  little  technical  knowledge  can  use 
them  effectively. 

73.  A  convenient  form  for  rough  estimating  is  shown  in  Fig.  20. 
By  rough  estimating  is  meant  figuring  on  a  basis  of  so  much  per 
outlet  without  endeavoring  to  make  a  detailed  summary  of  labor 
and  material.    The  form  is  as  convenient  for  new  as  for  finished 

54 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


55 


building  work.  The  number  of  outlets  and  the  number  of  sockets 
required  for  each  room  is  tabulated  as  illustrated.  The  number 
of  sockets  and  outlets  required  and  their  location  can  be  as- 
certained either  from  the  architect's  plans  or  from  an  inspection 
of  the  building.  After  tabulation,  the  totals  are  struck  and  it  is 


Outlet   and    Socket  Estimating   5heet 

GORDON  DUNN  COMPANY. 

Electrical  Contractors 
2824  Bridge  St. 

Estimate  No.    ....?£/£.._  J0b  No.  ••#&  Date 
For     <fc—^».~.*l*«5fcfc«f  —        Address* 

form  76  A 

fit^  .J.T...     |9l2. 
ll8jh$<Mt14._SHft-^ 

Location 

Centre  Uutlets 

Side  Outlets 

Switches 

Receptacles 

No. 

Outlets 

No. 
Sockets 

No. 

Outlets 

No. 

Sockets 

Cellar 

Z 

2 

/ 

Kitchen 

1 

2. 

/ 

/ 

Dining  Room 

J 

4. 

z 

Z 

/ 

/ 

Living  Room 

2. 

4- 

4- 

£ 

2 

/ 

Parlor 

Library 

Hall,  Upstairs 

/ 

f 

/ 

Hall  .Downstairs 

/ 

1 

/ 

Bathroom 

Z. 

Z- 

/ 

Bed  Room   1 

/ 

Z 

1 

Bed  Room  2 

/ 

2. 

2 

2- 

1 

Bed  Room  3 

/ 

2. 

1 

Bed  Room  4 

/ 

2- 

1 

3Lm/iiiyi4s  (finch, 

/ 

/ 

/ 

i*^~  y 

Total  Outlets 

13 

^x^ 

/<r 

^>xd 

IZ 

4- 

Total  Sockets 

^xd 

2.^ 

^xC 

i<r 

XI 

Grand  Total  Outlets 

m-Hr-h-u-*-  y- 

3<j 

Grand  Total  Sockets 

13  +-IO-  +-  4- 

+7 

FIG.  20. — Convenient,  estimating  form. 

then  easy  to  determine  the  cost  of  the  job  by  multiplying  the  unit 
cost  per  outlet  by  the  number  of  outlets  and  making  the  neces- 
sary additions  for  switches,  receptacles  and  the  other  fittings  re- 
quired. In  the  form  shown,  the  switch  outlets  are  treated,  from 
the  standpoint  of  cost,  the  same  as  center  and  side  outlets.  In 


56  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

some  localities  it  is  the  practice  to  use  a  different  unit  price  for 
switch  outlets  than  for  the  others.  In  such  cases  the  form  can 
be  altered  accordingly. 

The  number  of  sockets  being  known,  the  number  of  branch 
circuits  required  can  be  determined  by  applying  the  Code  rule 
(23-^)  which  specifies  that  not  more  than  sixteen  sockets,  or  no 
lamp  load  exceeding  660  watts,  shall  be  served  by  one  cut  out. 
It  is  not  customary  to  connect  more  than  twelve  sockets  to  one 
branch  circuit. 

74.  A  preliminary  information  sheet  on  which  may  be  listed 
all  of  the  data  that  the  prospective  consumer  can  give  is  shown  in 
Fig.  21.     It  is  the  form  suggested  in  the  1913  Report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Wiring  Existing  Buildings  of  the  National  Electric  Light 
Association.     The  form  is  merely  a  suggestion  and  is  probably 
too  elaborate  for  ordinary  conditions.     It  is  intended  to  list  all 
of  the  questions  that  the  customer  only  can  answer.     It  can 
be  abridged  to  suit  local  conditions.     It  is  not  the  intention  to 
list  on  this  sheet  the  questions  that  must  be  answered  by  the 
central  station  or  the  contractor. 

75.  Standardized  or  unit  prices  are  used  almost  exclusively  in 
finished-building  wiring  campaigns  for  the  reasons  suggested  in 
preceding   paragraphs.       They  afford  a  quick,  fairly  accurate 
means  of  giving  the  prospect  a  price.     They  should  be  (this 
classification  and  much  of  the  other  information  that  follows  was 
suggested  by  an  Electrical  World  article  by  H.  L.  Parker,  "Stand- 
ardized Interior  Wiring  Prices") :     (i)  SIMPLE,  so  that  a  salesman 
with  little  technical  knowledge  can  handle  them  successfully; 

(2)  FLEXIBLE,  so  as  to  be  accurate  for  divergent  conditions  and 
so  as  not  to  depend  too  much  on  the  law  of  averages;  (3)  EQUI- 
TABLE, so  that  the  prices  will  be  consistent  and  be  in  proportion, 
as  nearly  as  possible,  to  the  actual  cost  of  each  installation,  and  (4) 
FAIR,  so  that  the  central  station  or  the  contractor  can  realize  a 
reasonable   profit.     The   methods   of    determining   unit   wiring 
prices    may    be  divided  into  four  different  classes:     (i)   FLAT 
PRICE  PER  INSTALLATION,  (2)  UNIT  PRICE  PER  LAMP  OR  SOCKET, 

(3)  PRICE  PER  OUTLET  and  (4)  PRICE  PER  OUTLET  VARYING 
WITH   NUMBER   OF  LAMPS.     Each   of    these    classifications    is 
discussed  in  the  following  paragraphs. 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


57 


INFORMATION 

Name. 

Address ' 

Class  of  house _ *•••/•• 

Number  of  stories #/£ 

Is  house  detached,  or  part  of  a  block  or  double  house 

About  how  far  back  is  the  front  wall  from  the  sidewalk 

Is  the  house  of  wood,  brick,  stone  or  cement? 

If  part  of  the  house  is  one  construction  and  pjfrt  of  another 


Uis.  giving  details...,. 


If  of  brick,  stone  or  .cement,  are  the  entire.walls  the  same,  or  are  the  inner  walls  frame  (studding 

Is  there  an  air  shaft  or 'back  stairs? ^G>o^<^f<^\  .  s>^r-.«r-<<<V^<*.  .•.'. '. 

If  the  building  is  not  to  be  wired  throughout  rygte  the  rooms/pmitted  and  their  location. . .  j 

rwise  specified,  that  t'he|£/b  no  deadening  material  between  Boon,  and  00 


FIG.  21. — Information  sheet. 


58  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

76.  The    flat-price-per-installation     standardized     price    is 

properly  used  only  for  short  aggressive  campaigns.  For  example : 
The  central  station  or  contractor  offers  to  wire  a  house  of  a 
given  number  of  rooms,  for  a  certain  number  of  lamps,  for  a 
stipulated  amount.  Where  there  are  many  houses  of  about  the 
size  and  construction  to  which  the  offer  applies  in  the  com- 
munity and  it  is  contemplated  to  wire  a  considerable  number  of 
them,  the  method  can  be  made  a  splendid  load  builder.  Some  of 
the  installations  will  cost  much  more  than  others  but  the  average 
cost  plus  profit  per  job  should  be  about  equal  to  the  advertised 
price  per  job,  if  the  advertised  price  was  judiciously  selected. 
In  other  cases  the  central  station  will  agree  to  wire  a  house  and 
also  furnish  the  fixtures  all  for  a  given  flat  amount.  An  example 
of  such  a  proposition  is  given  in  the  Mobile  Electric  Company 
schedule  in  Par.  104.  The  advantage  of  the  flat-rate-per-job 
method  is  that  its  proposition  is  very  simple  and  is  readily 
understood  by  the  prospective  customer.  It  is  therefore  cap- 
able of  being  advertised  effectively.  Its  disadvantage  is  its 
inflexibility. 

77.  The  Unit  Price  Per  Lamp  or  Socket.    With  this  method  the 
number  of  outlets  necessary  is  not  considered.     The  method  can- 
not be  accurate  or  equitable  because  a  consumer  who  had  wiring 
done  for  fourteen  lamps  from  fourteen  outlets  would  pay  the  same 
price  as  one  that  had  wiring  installed  for  fourteen  lamps  from 
four  outlets.     Simplicity   is   a  point  greatly   in   favor   of    the 
method.     It  is  readily  understood  by  any  one  that  can  read  and 
has  given  excellent  results  in  certain  cases. 

78.  Unit  Price  per  Outlet.    This  is  the  method  that,  with  various 
modifications,  is  more  widely  used  than  any  other  for  the  de- 
termination of  prices  for  finished-building  wiring.     It  is  sufficiently 
simple  that  the  solicitor  salesman  can  grasp  it  readily.     It  is 
quite  accurate.    On  the  whole  it  is  giving  satisfaction.     The 
important  variations  of  the  method  are: 

(i)  FLAT  PRICE  PER  OUTLET  INCLUDING  BOTH  LAMP  AND 
SWITCH  OUTLETS.  The  advantage  is  simplicity.  It  is  fairly  ac- 
curate for  small  houses  unless  three-way  and  electrolier  switches 
are  specified.  Where  such  switches  are  specified  and  for  large 
houses  it  is  apt  to  give  prices  that  are  too  low — that  is,  if  the  same 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


59 


prices  are  fair  for  small  houses  with  ordinary  switches.     Switches 
themselves  are  not  included  in  the  prices. 

(2)  A   FLAT   PRICE   FOR   OUTLETS   ONLY,  PRICE   ADDITIONS 
BEING  MADE  FOR  SWITCH  OUTLETS  AND  SWITCHES.    This  method 
has  been  utilized,  but  usually  with  the  addition  that  a  price 
increment  is  also  made  for  the  cost  of  the  entrance'to  the  building 
as  discussed  in  the  following  item. 

(3)  A  FLAT  PRICE  FOR  SERVICE  ENTRANCE,  INCLUDING  MAIN 
SWITCH  AND  CUT  OUT,  LOOP  FOR  METER,  ETC.,  TO  WHICH  is 
ADDED  A  PRICE  PER  LAMP  OUTLET  OR  SWITCH  OUTLET.    The 
National  Electric  Light  Association  cost  and  price  data  given 
in    following  paragraphs  were  determined  on  this  basis,  which 
is  quite    equitable  and  accurate  inasmuch  as  the  cost  of  any 
interior    wiring  installation    divides    itself  very  naturally  into 
three  items:  (a)  Service  Entrance,  (b)  Lamp  Outlets  and  (c)  Switch 
Outlets.    It  is  obvious,  however,  that  the  price  of  any  job,  where 
there  is  more  than  one  branch  circuit  or  twelve  lamps,  will  be  de- 
termined not  only  by  the  number  of  outlets  but  also  by  the 
number  of  lamps.     This  is  because  that  for  each  additional  twelve 
(or  less)  lamps  there  should 

be  one  additional  branch 
circuit  with  its  cut  out  and 
its  run  from  the  distribu- 
tion center.  The  following 
method  takes  this  feature 
into  consideration. 

78a.  Price  per  Outlet 
Varying  with  the  Number 
of  Lamps.  This  method 
was  proposed  by  H.  L.  Parker  of  the  Consolidated  Gas,  Elec- 
tric Light  &  Power  Company  of  Baltimore  and  described  in  his 
article  "  Standardized  Interior  Wiring  Prices"  in  Electrical  World 
for  Mar.  9,  1912.  The  method  is  used  by  the  Baltimore  Com- 
pany. A  table  illustrating  its  application  is  given  in  96. 
The  relation  obtaining  between  the  number  of  outlets  and  the 
number  of  sockets  in  residences  as  ascertained  by  surveys  made  in 
Baltimore  is  shown  in  Fig.  22.  These  relations  were  used  in 
compiling  the  table,  it  being  assumed  that  each  lamp  or  socket 


id 

r+'O11 

ntf 

^ 

ito 

Gj^-»^ 

o) 

t 

Od 

X* 

* 

ff 

,'*) 

& 

% 

rV 

1 

1 

OJJ> 

_^. 

-' 

y 

•r! 

% 

^* 

^ 

frtf 

jtc 

ffO 

fl 

•fb 

-^ 

^ 

?2* 

Jw 

'ft 

r& 

c^ 

Number  of  Outlets  (Exclusive  of  Switches). 

of 


60  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

consumes  50  watts  and  that  there  are  twelve  or  thirteen  lamps 
on  each  branch  circuit. 

79.  Classification  of  Buildings  for  Estimating  on  a  Unit  or 
"Standardized"  Basis.     It  is  usually  desirable  if  not  necessary  to 
divide  into  classes  the  buildings,  of  different  types  of  construction, 
that  may  be  wired.     In  small  cities  where  nearly  all  buildings 
are  of  one  type  of  construction — frame  exterior  and  interior 
construction — such  a  classification  is  not  necessary.     In  cities 
where  several  distinct  types  of  construction  are  encountered, 
classification    has    been    found     necessary.     Frequently      the 
classification  may  be  based  on  the  normal  rental  value  of  the 
building.     The  price  schedules  given  in  98  to  101  illustrate  one 
method  of  classification. 

80.  The  relation  between  number  of  outlets  and  number  of 
sockets  in  residences  as  determined  by  H.  L.  Parker  is  shown 
graphically  in  Fig.  22.     Surveys  were  made  of  a  large  number  of 
residences  in  Baltimore  each  having  the  same  number  of  outlets, 
excluding  switch  outlets,  and  results  were  plotted  into  the  curves 
shown.     For   example,    twenty    houses    each    having    eighteen 
outlets  had  an  average  of  twenty-five  sockets  connected. 

81.  Cost  data  given  in  the  1913  National  Electric  Light  Associa- 
tion report  of  the  Committee  on  Wiring  of  Existing  Buildings  are 
given  in  paragraphs  that  follow.     In  every  instance  such  data  are 
designated  by  the  initials  N.E.L.A .     In  compiling  these  data  the 
committee  secured  information  from  a  number  of  representative 
central  stations  and,  after  correcting  for  obvious  errors,  struck 
a  mean  between   the  different  figures  submitted.    The  values 
given  therefore  are  average  values  and  obviously  will  not  apply 
in  all  sections  of  the  country.     Unless  otherwise   specified,   the 
costs  do  not  include  extra  fittings  such  as  switches,  receptacles, 
fixtures  and  the  like.     They  cover  simply  the  wiring. 

82.  Labor  Costs.     The  reporters  were  requested  to  adjust  all 
labor  costs  to  rates  of  $4  and  $2  a  day  respectively,  for  wire- 
men  and  helpers,  hence  it  can  be  assumed  that  the  labor  in  all  of 
the  tables  of  costs  given  in  following  paragraphs  and  designated 
"N.E.L.A."  are  charged  on  this  basis,  which  is  fairly  representa- 
tive for  the  whole  country. 


COSTS  AND  PRICES  61 

83.  Overhead  and   General  Expense   Charges  on  Interior 
Wiring.     Data  gathered  by  the  National  Electrical  Contractors 
Association  from  members  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
country,  and  doing  annual  gross  businesses  of  from  $10,000  to 
$100,000  a  year,  indicate  that  the  average  expense  of  conducting 
a  contracting  business  is  22.2  per  cent.     In  other  words,  28.6  per 
cent,  should  be  added  to  the  net  cost  of  all  labor  and  material  to 
secure  the  actual  average  cost  of  a  job.     In  round  numbers 
30  per  cent,  should  be  added  to  the  sum  of  labor  and  material 
costs  to  obtain  the  actual  cost.     The  profit  should  be  added  to  value 
thus  obtained.     It  is  a  decided  error  for  a  contractor  or  central 
station  to  disregard  these  overhead  charges.     A  central  station 
may  bury  them  in  its  bookkeeping  but  they  are  there  nevertheless. 
On  the  above  basis,  general   expense   or   overhead  is  assumed 
to  include  such  items  as  salaries,  rents,  light,  heat,  power,  tele- 
phone, telegraph,  office  help,  insurance,  advertising,  overseeing, 
freight,    cartage   and   expressage,   printing   and   postage.     The 
values  given  in  the  N.E.L.A.  cost  data  in  following  tables  cover 
cost  of  labor  and  material  plus  30  per  cent,  for  general  expense. 

84.  Profits  on  and  List  Prices  for  Finished-building  Wiring 
Jobs.     Whether  a  central  station  that  is  wiring  buildings  should 
or  should  not  include  a  profit  in  its  prices  to  consumers  is  a  ques- 
tion that  must  be  determined  by  local  conditions.     The  general 
opinion  appears  to  be  that,  as  a  general  proposition,  a  profit 
should  be  charged  in  order  to  protect  the  contractors.     Electrical 
contractors  ordinarily  expect  a  profit  of  something  between  10 
and  25  per  cent.     In  the  N.E.L.A.  cost  tables  in  following  para- 
graphs the  costs  have  been  doubled  to  obtain  the  list  prices  given. 
Discounts  based  on  the  conditions  obtaining  in  any  particular 
community  can  be  applied  to  these  list  prices. 

85.  Labor  cost  for  installing  switches  (N.E.L.A.',  see  Pars. 
81  to  84),  that  is,  for  mounting  and  connecting  them  after  the 
wiring  is  installed,  ranges  from  15  to  40  cents  per  switch.     A  fair 
average  cost  is  25  cents  per  switch. 

86.  Effect  of  Municipal  Wiring  Rules  on  Cost  of  Wiring. 
Usually  the  requirements  that  municipalities  sometimes  impose, 
additional  to  those  of  The  National  Electric  Code,  increase  the 
cost  of  wiring.     For  instance  in  Chicago,  Denver  and  certain 


62  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

other  places,  all  concealed  work  must  be  in  conduit,  which  renders 
it  very  expensive.  In  Pittsburgh,  the  municipal  rules  require 
that  double-pole  switches  be  used  for  all  circuits  to  combina- 
tion gas-electric  fixtures.  This  has  the  effect  of  increasing  the 
price  per  room  where  there  are  combination  fixtures  to  $5  or 
$6  (for  concealed  knob  and  tube  work).  With  pull-chain  or 
key  sockets,  provided  their  use  was  permitted,  the  price  could  be 
decreased  to  $3  or  $3.50  per  room.  Obviously,  additional  wiring 
restrictions  tend  to  retard  the  wiring  of  finished  buildings  be- 
cause of  the  accompanying  feature  of  additional  cost. 

87.  Cost  of  Cutting  Hardwood  and  Parquetry  Floors.    (See 
Pars.  81  to  84.)     Cost  values  from  different  parts  of  the  country 
range  from  50  cents  to  $3   per  outlet.     Where  the  wireman  is 
not  competent  to  do  the  cutting  and  a  skilled  carpenter  must  be 
employed  the  cost  is  high.     Where  wiremen  are  trained  to  do  it 
a  low  cost  results.     Certain  contractors  pay  men  that  are  ex- 
perts at  hardwood  floor  work  25  cents  a  day  more  than  ordinary 
wiremen  receive  and  under  these  conditions  the  resulting  in- 
creased cost  per  outlet  under  hardwood  floors  is  small.  Ordi- 
narily, contractors  do  not  handle  enough  hardwood  floor  work  to 
justify    this    procedure.     Probably    the    average    outlet    under 
hardwood  costs  $2.50  without  and  $3.25  with  overhead,  more 
than  an  outlet  under  a  soft-wood  floor  (N.  E. L.A.). 

88.  The  discrepancies  between  the  prices  quoted  in  different 
parts  of  the  country  for  old -building  wiring  are  due  to  causes  which 
are  readily  explained  if  they  are  understood.     There  may  be  a 
slight  difference  in  the  cost  of  material  and  a  material  difference  in 
the  cost  of  labor  in  different  sections.     The  greatest  difference  is 
due,  probably,  to  the  policy  that  the  central  station   assumes 
in.  regard  to  the  contractor.     If  conditions  are  such,  in  the  com- 
munity where  the  wiring  is  being  done,  that  a  generous  profit  can 
be  allowed   the  contractor  without    decreasing   materially   the 
amount  of  business  obtained,  the  central  station  usually  co-oper- 
ates with  the  contractors  and  uses  their  price  schedules.     How- 
ever, if  it  is  imperative  that  the  wiring  be  installed  at  absolute 
minimum  prices,  the  central  station  frequently   does  the  work 
itself  and  bills  the  consumer  with  the  cost  of  the  job,  that  is,  cost 
of  labor  and  material  plus  an  overhead  charge  but  without  any 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


63 


profit.  Another  cause  of  variations  in  prices  is  that  due  to 
differences  in  overhead  costs.  The  overhead  costs  of  the  small- 
town contractor  amount  to  practically  nothing.  If  he  makes 
good  day  wages  he  is,  frequently,  satisfied.  In  cities  where  rents 
and  other  expenses  are  high,  overhead  charges  are  considerable 
items.  Fig.  23  shows  graphically  some  of  these  discrepancies. 
The  graph  was  plotted  by  H.  L.  Parker.  This  graph  was  plotted 


5  6   7  8  9  10      112       14      16       18      £0     ^^     24     26     28     30      32     34      36 

Outlets. 
7  10     12       15      18      22     26     31      35     39     45     49     55     60     65      70 

Sockets. 

FIG.  23. — Graph  showing  differences  in  wiring  prices  in  different  communities. 

several  years  ago  and  may  not  represent  prices  now  in  force. 
Experience  has  shown  that,  where  wiring  prices  are  standardized 
by  the  central  station  and  the  schedules  distributed  widely,  the 
contractors  usually  follow  the  lead  of  the  central  station  and  a 
fairly  uniform  scale  of  prices  throughout  the  community  results. 
89.  Average  Prices  for  Wiring  Finished  Frame  Buildings.  In 
the  average  town,  up  to  possibly  12,000  or  15,000  inhabitants, 


64 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


where  there  are  no  unions  and  where  contractors'  establishments 
are  small,  involving  light  overhead  charges,  the  contractors  will 
frequently  make  a  flat  rate  to  the  consumer  of  something  between 
$1.25  to  $3.25  per  outlet  for  "roughing  in"  with  concealed  knob 
and  tube  work  in  rooms  which  do  not  have  hardwood  floors  above. 
Probably  a  fair  average  price  is  $2  per  outlet.  This  figure 
ordinarily  provides  a  fair  margin  of  profit  for  the  contractor. 
Switches,  fixtures  and  lamps  are  not  included. 

90.  An  example  of  an  itemized  estimate,  as  contrasted  with  an 
estimate  based  on  unit  prices  per  outlet  and  for  switches  and  the 
like,  is  given  in  the  following  table.  The  figures  are  those  of 
the  Consolidated  Gas,  Electric  &  Power  Company  operating  in 
Baltimore,  Md.  Class  of  work:  concealed  knob  and  tube. 
Service-entrance  in  cellar.  Meter  loop  and  cut  outs  in  cellar. 
Wood  molding  in  basement  and  attic. 


Room 


Wiring  Details,  Etc. 


Price 


Service  entry. 


Grounding  service. 
Pantry 


20  ft.  f-in.  conduit 

6  f-in.  pipe  bands 

12  i|-in.  No.  10  F.  H.  bright  screws  .  .  . 
|  Ib.  loD.  nails 

A.  4122  pipe  taplet 

No.  5267  pipe  taplet  hood 

No.  4125  pipe  taplet 

No.  602  pipe  taplet  cover 

f-in.  conduit  coupling '.. 

f-in.  conduit  ells 

f-in.  gas  ell 

f-in.  X  3-in.  close  nipple 

3  f-in.  locknuts 

3  f-in.  bushings 

So-£t.'No.  10  D.  B.  R.  C.  Wire 

1  No.  35367  G.  E.  cut-out  switch 

2  25-amp.  fuse  plugs 

2  2o-amp.  fuse  plugs 

i  9  X  10  in.  meter  board 

1  16  X  24-in.  meter  board 

6  i|-in.  No.  10  R.  H.  blued  screws 

i5-ft.  single-groove  molding  and  capping 
i7-ft.  No.  6  S.  B.  R.  C.  wire 

2  A  all  in  one  ground  clamps 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 


$o .  740 

0.012 
O.OI2 
O.OO5 
0.146 

0-153 
0.284 
0.041 
0.050 
O.  2OO 
O.O2O 
O.O22 
O.OI2 
0.033 
0.700 
0.225 
O.O4O 
O.O4O 
0.063 
O.4OO 
O.OO6 
O.lSo 

0-459 
O.  I  2O 

0.038 
0.017 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


65 


Room 


Wiring  Details,  Etc. 


Price 


Kitchen... 
Basement. 


Dining  room 

Hall 

Parlor 

Porch 

Hall,  second  story. .  . 
Front  bed  room 

Middle  bed  room.  .  .  . 
Bath  room 

Rear  room. . 


i  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 

i  No.  10x5136  P.  &  S.  receptacle 

i  No.  88985  G.  E.  switch 

3o-ft.  i|-in.  2-wire  molding  and  capping 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 

i  CC  2^-in.  2-gang  switch  box 

i  No.  2081  H.  &  H.  flush  switch 

i  No.  4077  H.&  H.  flush  switch  plate  B.B. 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 

1  CC  2j-in.  2-gang  switch  box 

2  No.  2083  H.  &  H.  flush  switches 

i  No.  4078  H.&  H.  flush  switch  plate  B.B. 
i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 

i  No.  2081  H.  &  H.  flush  switch 

i  No.  4077  H.  &  H.  flush  switch  plate  B.B. 

i  CC  2^-in.  single-gang  switch  box 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 

i  No.  2081  H.  &  H.  flush  switch.' 

i  No.4077  H.&H.flush  switch  plate  B.B. 

i  CC  2^-in.  single-gang  switch  box 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

1  f-in.  stud • 

2  No.  2083  H.  &  H.  flush  switches  .... 
i  No.  4078  H.&  H.  flush  switch  B.B.  plate 

i  C  C  2j-m.  2-gang  switch  box 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 

i  No.  2081  H.  &  H.  flush  switch 

i  CC  2^-in.  single-gang  switch  box 

i  No.  4077  H.&  H.  flush  switch  plate  B.B. 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 

i  No.  500  loom  box - 

i  f-in.  slud 

i  No.  2081  H.  &  H.  flush  switch 

i  No.  4077  H.&  H.  flush  switch  plate  B.B. 
i  CC  2|-in.  single-gang  switch  box.    .  . 

i  No.  500  loom  box 

i  f-in.  stud 


0.038 
0.017 

O.IS3 
0.136 
0.330 
0.038 
0.017 
0.180 
0.168 
0-053 
0.038 
0.017 
0.180 
0.520 
0.105 
0.038 
0.017 
0.168 
0.053 
0.085 
$0.038 
0.017 
0.168 
0-053 
0.085 
0.038 
0.017 
o.  520 
0.105 
0.180 
0.038 
0.017 
0.168 
0.085 
0-053 
0.038 
0.017 
0.038 
0.017 
0.168 
0-053 
0.085 
0.038 
0.017 


66 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Room 

Wiring  Details,  Etc. 

Price 

Attic  
Miscellaneous  

i  No.  50726  Paiste  receptacle 

0.115 
0.136 
7.000 
0.600 
0.300 
0.350 
3-250 
0.770 
0.700 
0.366 

O.  IOI 
O.OI2 
0.100 

0.050 
0.0064 
0.180 
0.080 

0.300 

i  No.  88985  G.  E.  switch  
looo-ft.  No.  14  S.  B.  R.  C.  wire  
150  y^j-in.  X  4-in.  tubes 

50  i^-in.  X  6-in.  tubes  

50  No.  5^-in.  split  knobs  

25o-ft.  |-in.  circular  loom  

yo-ft.  i|-in.-2  wire  molding  &  capping.  . 
50  No.  i  loom  bushings  

3  No.  4090  Paiste  molding  taplets  
i  No.  4099  Paiste  molding  taplets  
12  i-in.  No.  8  R.  H.  blued  screws 

50  2^-in.  No.  8  F.  H.  bright  screws  
50  f-in.  No.  5  F.  H.  bright  screws  
8  i^-in.  No.  8  R.  H.  blued  screws.  . 

2  No.  61935  G.  E.  cut-outs. 

4  10  amp.  fuse  plugs  

12  No.  6102  pipe  clamps         .  . 

Labor,  electrician,  thre 
Helper,  three  ai 
Carfare  two  men 

Total  material  
;e  and  one-half  days  @  $3.50 

$22.84 
12.25 
7-50 

0.60 

1-50 

id  one-half  days  @  $2.00  

Auto-truck  charges 

Plus  33!  per  cent,  (for 

overhead) 

$44.19 
14.73 

Total  price  to  customer  

$58.92 

91.  Costs  and  List  Prices  of  Services,  Entrances  and  Runs  to 
Centers  of  Distribution.  See  Pars.  81  to  84.  Entrance  has  a 
capacity  of  from  i  to  100  lamps.  The  cost  values  assume  that 


Item 


Cost 


List 


i  Each  pole  and  stretch  of  wire  (special  prices 
if  blasting  is  required)            

$25  oo 

$50  oo 

2  Each    foot    of    underground    service    (special 
prices  if  in  macadam  or  paving)  

I  .  IO 

2    2O 

3  For  service  pipe  up  to  20  ft. 

6  oo 

12    OO 

4  Each  additional  foot 

o  30 

o  60 

5  Ground  wire     

4.00 

8  oo 

6  Service  switch 

2  2=; 

4     en 

7  Basement  run         

ii  .  50 

23    OO 

8  Meter  board.  . 

o.  qo 

I  .OO 

COSTS  AND  PRICES 


67 


the  service  pipe  extending  from  the  outside  of  the  building  into 
the  basement  is  of  3/4-in.  diameter  wrought  iron  conduit,  and 
that  it  is  20  ft.  long  and  contains  50  ft.  of  No.  8  rubber-insulated, 
double-braid,  solid  wire;  bolts  and  clips  and  two  condulets  are 
included.  Ground  wire  is  assumed  to  be  15  ft.  of  No.  4.  Run 
to  distribution  center  is  assumed  to  be  40  ft.  of  armored  cable  or 
of  rubber-covered  wire  in  rigid  conduit. 

Or  all  items,  3  to  8,  inclusive,  are  covered  by  the  following 
figures: 


Service  entrance,  etc $15 .00 

For  each  extra  outlet,  add o .  30 


$30.00 
0.60 


92.  Cost  of  Standard  Ceiling  Outlets  Wired  in  Accordance 
with  Various  Methods.  (N.E.L.A.)  See  Pars.  81  to  84.  The 
cost  of  a  ceiling  outlet  is  assumed  to  comprise:  (i)  Its  propor- 
tion of  distribution  box,  cut  out  and  fuse;  (2)  the  loop  to  the 
outlet;  and  (3)  the  outlet  box  in  concealed  work  or  the  rosette 
in  open  work.  Obviously,  the  cost  is  essentially  the  same  for  a 
ceiling  lamp  outlet  as  for  a  ceiling  switch  outlet.  The  values 
contemplate  soft-wood  floor  construction.  Costs  for  hardwood 
floors  are  given  elsewhere. 


No 

( 

Zosts 

Labor 

Material 

Total1 

Relative 

I 

Flexible  metallic  conduit. 

$2  .00 

$2  .OO 

$5  .20 

IOO 

2 

I   ,7C 

2    OO 

A      87 

QA 

•2 

Metallic  molding 

I     ^O 

I    7  ^ 

42  3 

81 

4 

Concealed  knob  and  tube 

work,  some  loom  

1  .50 

1.50 

3-90 

75 

5 

Wooden  molding  

0.75 

0.85 

2  .60 

So 

6 

Open  wiring  

o  .60 

0-75 

i  -75 

34 

1  This  includes  30  per  cent,  for  general  expense. 


93.  Costs  and  List  Prices  of  Outlets  of  Various  Types.  These 
are  N.E.L.A.  data.  See  Pars.  81  to  84.  The  list  prices  are 
200  per  cent,  of  the  cost  in  each  case  to  permit  the  quoting  of 
discounts  for  given  sets  of  conditions. 


68 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


U      1      O     V    ^ 

_     i      . 

rt    °  °+*    a    M 

c    rt  ^ 

0    <°   $        >§ 

rt   -t    u    *» 

Is 

?«  1  58 

^•S-SS 

i  |ii 

si 

•§  .  s  d  ^ 

'ft  ^  o  ^ 

No. 

Method  of  wiring 

o 
53 

ttj'ti 

*  I  s 

• 

o  +»  £  •§   2   *» 

.•s  °  %>  •« 

i  c  2  *• 

1 

is'Hfei 

"S  *o    a?    "  *"  "S 

e?  o        « 

Sills! 

III? 

Cost 

List 

Cost        List 

Cost 

List 

I 

Concealed  armored  cable. 

$4.87 

$9.74 

$6.33 

$12.66 

$1.46 

$2.92 

2 

Concealed  flexible  metallic 

5.20 

10  .40 

6.76 

13.52 

1.56 

3.12 

Concealed  ordinary 

3  .QO 

7    80 

f    07 

IO    14 

I    17 

21  A. 

4 

Metallic  molding 

4  .23 

/    «*M 

8.4.6 

o  'w/ 

5  -5° 

II  .OO 

•*•••*•/ 
I  .27 

"OT1 

2  >54 

•T 

5 

Wooden  molding  

*r  **O 

2.60 

**  •T<V/ 

5.20 

3.38 

6.76 

i  *~  / 
0.78 

1.56 

6 

Open  wiring  

1-75 

3-50 

2.28 

4.50 

0.525 

1  .05 

1  Standard   outlets  include  ceiling,  wall,  baseboard  and  floor  outlets  for 
current,  single-pole  switches  and  bell-ringing  transformers. 


J  Jp 

?  ^ 

S      O      M 

1^ 

to    t 

1 

MJ 

1  O 

: 

1*1 

si 

•  ll 

Sfl 

No. 

Method  of  wiring 

5    : 

-  a  & 

2 

M    « 

v^  a 

»•  "« 

^  ^  w 

o   o   a 

—    ^ 

S 

*" 

8  2 

i  J3    « 

*  "**  S 

Oj      ^ 

**  "S 

If; 

\Z  ^ 

Igl 

E-H     V»    O 

wS 

^0 

Cost 

List 

Cost 

List 

Cost 

List 

i 

Concealed  armored  cable. 

$15.58 

$31.16 

$7-79 

$15.58 

$9.74 

$19.48 

2 

Concealed  flexible  metallic 

16.64 

33.28 

8.32 

1  6  .64 

10  .40 

20.80 

3" 

Concealed,  ordinary  

12  .48 

24.O6 

6  .24 

12  .48 

7.80 

15  .60 

4 

Metallic  molding  

13.54 

27.08 

6.72 

13.44 

8.46 

16  .92 

5 

Wooden  molding  

8.32 

16.64 

4.16 

8.32 

5  .20 

10  .40 

6 

Open  wiring  

5.60 

II  .20 

2.80 

5.60 

3-50 

7  .00 

2  Four- ways  used  only  in  connection  with  a  pair  of  three-way  switches. 


94.  Costs  and  List  Prices  of  Extras.  These  are  N.E.L.A.  data. 
See  Pars.  81  to  84  inclusive;  also  see  tables  of  costs  and  prices 
of  outlets. 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


69 


Item 


Cost 


List 


For  each  outlet  that  involves  cutting  or  dodging 

hardwood,  add 

For  each  outlet  on  brick  wall,  not  furred  (con- 
cealed jobs) 3  . 20 

For  each  gang  switch,  credit  for  second  and  sub- 
sequent outlets o 

Door  outlet  from  bell-ringing  transformer 2  .00 

Emergency  system,  one  circuit,  armored  cable.. .  |     40  .00 

Installing  switches,  receptacles,  etc.,  each o  .25 

Installing  automatic  door  switch ,       i  .00 

Installing  bell-ringing  transformer j       i  .00 


$6.50 
6  .40 

1  .30 
4  .00 

80  .00 
o  .50 

2  .OO 
2  .OO 


For  fittings  themselves  use  market  price  plus  general  expense  and  profit. 

95.  Baltimore,  Consolidated  Gas,  Electric  Light  and  Power 
Company  Lamp-outlet,  Unit-price  Schedule.  The  following 
charges  are  for  installing  knob-and-tube  wiring  for  lamp  outlets, 
in  any  finished  building  the  inner  walls  of  which  are  of  wooden 
lath  and  plaster  on  wooden  studding.  Where  outlets,  on  stone 
and  brick  walls,  must  be  made,  the  additions  given  in  the  list 
below  the  table  apply.  Values  in  the  table  indicate  the  price  to 
the  consumer,  in  dollars,  for  a  certain  number  of  outlets  feeding  a 
certain  number  of  sockets.  Switches  and  switch  wiring  and 
miscellaneous  fittings  are  not  included  in  the  values  given  in  the 
following  schedule. 

Additions  specified  in  Table  96  must  be  made  therefor.  A 
charge  of  25  per  cent,  for  overhead  has  been  included  in  these 
prices.  The  price  of  the  service  entrance  has  been  included  in  the 
tabulated  values. 


OUTLETS  IN  STONE  OR  BRICK.  Where  it  is  found  necessary  to  make  an 
outlet  on  a  wall  or  partition  of  either  of  these  materials,  that  is,  where  the 
surface  must  be  channelled  and  conduit  used,  a  charge  of  $3  per  outlet  in 
addition  to  the  charges  listed  above,  is  made  for  each  such  outlet. 

METAL  MOLDING  OUTLETS.  An  additional  charge  of  $2  is  made  for 
each  metal  molding  outlet. 

OUTLETS  UNDER  HARDWOOD  FLOORS.  For  ceiling  or  wall  outlets  under 
hardwood  floors  there  is  an  additional  charge  of  $2  per  outlet. 

GROUNDING  SERVICES.  All  services  must  be  grounded  to  a  water  pipe  or 
ground  plate  for  which  there  is  an  additional  charge  of  $3. 


70 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Number  of 
outlets 

Number  of  sockets  or  so-watt  lamps 

4  to  12           13  to  24           25  to  36      |    37  to  48         49  to  60 

61  to  72 

I  to  4 

5 
6 

7 
8 

9 

10 

ii 

12 
13 
14 
15 

16 

17 
18 

iQ 

20 

21 
22 

23 
24 

25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 

31 

32 

33 
34 
35 

18.00 
22.50 

2S-50 
28.00 
30.80 
34.65 
38.50 

42-35 
46.  2O 

2O.OO 
24.50 
27.50 
30.00 
32.00 
35-75 
39-50 

43-25 
47.00 

50-75 
54-50 
58.25 
62.00 
65.75 
69-50 
73-25 
77.00 

80.75 
84.50 
88.25 
92.00 



32.00 
34-oo 

37-75 
41.50 

45-25 
49.00 

52.75 
56.50 
60.25 
64.00 
67.75 
7I-50 
75-25 
79.00 

82.75 
86.50 
90.25 
94.00 

95-25 
98.90 
102.55 
106  .  20 
109.85 
II3-50 

II7-I5 
1  20  .  80 
124.45 
128.  10 
I3L75 

45-50 

49-25 
53.oo 

56.75 
60.50 
64.25 
68.00 
71.75 
75-50 
79-25 
83.00 

86.75 
90.50 
94-25 
98.00 
99-25 
102.90 
106.55 
no.  20 

113.85 
117.50 

121.15 

124.80 

128.45 
132.10 

135.75 

58.75 

62.50 
66.25 

70.00 
73-75 
77-50 
81.25 
85.00 

88.75 
92.50 
96.25 

IOO.OO 

101.25 

104.90 

108.55 

112.  2O 
H5.85 
119.50 

123.15 
126.80 

130.45 
134.10 
137.00 

72.OO 

75-75 
79-50 
83-25 
87.00 

90.75 
94-50 
98-25 

102.00 
103  .  25 

106  .  90 
110.55 
114.20 
117-85 
121.50 

125.15 
128.80 

132.45 
136.10 

138.25 

96.  Baltimore  Consolidated  Gas,  Electric  Light  and  Power 
Company  Switch-wiring-and-switch  Price  Schedule.  The  first 
section  of  the  table  shows  the  prices  for  wiring  only.  The  second 
section  shows  the  prices  of  switches  and  fittings  only,  without 
wiring. 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 

PRICE  LIST  FOR  SWITCH   OUTLET  WIRING 


71 


Per  single  pole  switch  

$2  .50 

Per  set  of  two  3-way  switches 

Per  set  of  3-ways  (2  switches) 
Per     2     sets    of    3-ways     (4 
switches)  (used  at  2  outlets) 
Per     2     sets    of    3-ways     (4 
switches)    (used  at  3   or  4 
outlets)  

6.50 
II  .OO 

13.00 

and   one   4  -way   switch    (3 
outlets)  
2-Point  electrolier  switch..  .  . 
3  -Point  electrolier  switch  .  .  . 

$8.50 
3.00 
3-50 

PRICE  LIST  FOR  SWITCH  AND   SPECIAL  FITTINGS 


Fitting 

Pactory 

No. 

Price 

Fitting  ' 

Factory 
No. 

Price 

Single  pole  flush,  push 

dicating)  

32Q 

$2.85 

button  switch  
Single  pole  rotary,  sur- 
face, indicating  switch 
3-Way  flush,  push  but- 
ton switch  (each)  .... 

2081 
2163 
2083 

$1.00 

0.50 

I.OO 

3-Point     rotary,    flush 
electrolier  switch.  .... 
3-Point     rotary,     snap 
electrolier  switch  (in- 
dicating)   

605 

32< 

I-SO 
o  8< 

4-Way  flush,  push  but- 
ton switch  (each)  .... 
2-Point    rotary,     flush 
electrolier  switch  
2-Point     rotary,     snap 
electrolier  switch  (in- 

2084 
609 

3.00 
1.25 

Automatic  door  switch 
Flush  baseboard  light- 
ing receptacle  with  cap 
Flush  base  board  heat- 
ing receptacle  with  cap 

2022 
5418 
5551 

2.00 

1-50 

2.OO 

97.  Baltimore  Consolidated  Gas,  Electric  Light  and  Power 
Company  Miscellaneous-wiring  Selling  Prices.  This  schedule 
includes  all  material  and  labor  and  the  prices  indicated  are  those 
to  the  customer.  Where  required  switches  and  plates  are 
included. 


Item 


Unit  price 


Molding  and  Wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  for  2-wire  i|-in.  painted  white  wood 
molding  with  capping  and  No.  14.  B.  &  S.  rubber-covered 
single-braid  wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  on  same  as  above  with  No.  12  wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  with  if -in.  molding  No.  10  wire  same  as 
above..  . 


Price  per  lineal  foot  for  3-wire  2|-in.  painted  white  wood 
molding  with  capping  and  No.  14  B.  &  S.  rubber- covered  single- 
braid  wire 

Price  same  as  above  with  No.  12  wire 

Price  same  as  above  with  3-in.  molding  and  No.  10  wire  .... 


$0.085 
0.095 

o.  10 


O.II 

0.125 
o.  14 


72 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Item 


Unit  price 


Conduit  and  Wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  for  |-in.  rigid  or  flexible  steel  conduit  with 
2  No.  14  B.  &  S.  rubber- covered  double-braid  wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  with  f-in.  conduit,  2  No.  12  wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  with  f-in.  conduit,  3  No.  12 

Price  per  lineal  foot  with  f-in.  conduit,  2  No.  10  wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  with  i-in.  conduit,  3  No.  10  wire 

Price  per  lineal  foot  with  i-in.  conduit,  3  No.  8  wire 

Service  Entrances 

Price  per  change  from  2-  to  3-wire  service  entrance  use  f-in. 
conduit  and  type  F  exterior  and  type  B  interior  condulet, 
porcelain  3-wire  combination  switch  cut  out  GE  No.  35368  or 
equal  before  meter  and  GE  No.  62199  3-wire  main  2-wire  branch 
cut  out  after  meter 

Cut  Outs  and  Boxes 

Price  for  cut  out  "A"  use  GE  No.  62199  or  equal 

Price  for  cut  out  "B"  use  GE  No.  61935  or  equal 

Price  for  cut  out  "C"  use  GE  No.  35368  or  equal 

Price  for  cut  out  "D  "  use  GE  No.  42976  or  equal 

Price  for  Box  E  to  fit  any  above  cut  out  A,  B,  C  or  D,  pine 
painted  white  lined  with  asbestos  with  hinged  door  and  snap  . . 

Price  for  Box  F  stamped  metal  box  to  fit  cut  outs  A,  B,  C  or  D 
with  hinged  door  and  snap 

Drop  Cord  and  Socket 

Price  for  MDCKs:  Use  fielding  No.  435  Rosette  No.  18  reen- 
forced  old  code  slicked  cord,  with  Weber  key  or  keyless  metal 
shell  socket  or  P.  &  S.  key  or  keyless  porcelain  drop  socket,  8-ft. 
cord. . 


Receptacles 

Price  for  MRKs:  Use  No.  2383  through  or  No.  2439  terminal 
Perkins  bases  with  GE  No.  9185  metal  shell  receptacle 

Price  for  MRKy:  Use  No.  2383  through  or  No.  2439  terminal 
Perkins  bases  with  GE  No.  9184  key  metal  shell  receptacle  .  .  . 

Price  MRPc:  Use  No.  2383  through  or  No.  2439  terminal 
Perkins  bases  with  Hubbell  No.  35006  pull  chain  metal  shell 
receptacle 

Price  for  MPgR:  Use  Hubbell  No.  5584  porcelain  wall  plug 
receptacle 

Price  for  MCFH:  Use  wood  block  8-in.  base  5-in.  face,  molded 
edge  painted  white,  same  thickness  as  molding  with  capping. 
Put  molding  against  block,  run  wires  in  grooves  in  base  of  block. 
Drill  j-in.  hole  in  center  for  fan  hook.  Mount  where  fan  hook 
will  have  firm  fastening 


o.  20 
0.25 

0-37 
0.30 
0.48 
0-55 


3-00 

0.65 

o-35 
i  .40 

I. 00 

1.50 
2.50 


1. 00 

0.50 
0.50 

0.90 
0.60 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


73 


Item 


Unit  price 


Price  for  MSW:  Use  No.  2212  through  or  No.  2358  terminal 
Perkins  base  with  H.  &  H.  10  amp.  No.  321  closed  base  indicating 
switch 0.50 

Price  for  CDCKs:  Use  type  C  |-in.  through  and  type  E  |-in. 
terminal  condulet  with  porcelain  cover;  No.  18  re-enforced  old 
code  slicked  lamp  cord  with  Weber  key  or  keyless  metal  shell 
socket  or  P.  &  S.  key  or  keyless  porcelain  drop  socket i .  50 

Price  for  CRKs:  Use  type  C  |-in.  through  and  type  E  ^-in. 
terminal  condulet  with  porcelain  cover  and  f-in.  nipple.  Use 
Weber  keyless  metal  shell  socket  or  P.  &  S.  keyless  drop  socket  1.15 

Price  for  CRKy:  Same  as  CRKs  except  use  key  sockets  same 
make 1.15 

Price  for  CPgR:  Use  type  JA  |-in.  through  or  type  K  £-in. 
terminal  condulet  with  Hubbell  condulet  attachment  plug  re- 
ceptacle and  Hubbell  composition  cap i .  40 

Price  for  CCFH:  Use  No.  8B  box  with  center  hole  punched 
out  for  fan  hook  mounted  where  fan  hook  will  have  firm  fastening  o .  30 

Price  for  CSW:  Use  GIIOI  for  through  and  HIIOI  terminal 
condulet  with  H.  &  H.  No.  321  lo-amp.  closed  base  indicating 
snap  switch i .  oo 


98.  Price  of  Wiring  Finished  Buildings— Switch  Outlets, 
Switches  and  Extras.  The  following  prices  are  those  to  the 
consumer,  and  are  to  be  added  to  the  prices  given  for  outlets  in 
the  three  following  tables.  Wiring  is  concealed  and  in  flexible 
metallic  conduit,  except  in  basements  where  rigid  conduit  is  used 
exposed  on  the  ceiling. 

Cost  of  wiring  for  switch  outlets 


Class 


II 


III 


IV 


Single  pole. 
Three-way 


$3.00 
4.50 


$3.50 
5-QQ 


$4-25 
5-75 


$4-50 
6  .00 


$2.50 
4.00 


In  addition  to  the  above  prices  for  wiring  switches,  additional 
prices  for  switches,  etc.,  are  as  follows: 


Item 


Price 


Item 


Price 


Flush  push-button  single  pole  . 

Standard  snap  single  pole 

Automatic  door  switch 

Three-way  flush  switch 

Three-way  snap  switch 

Drop    cords,    including    spun 
brass  canopy,  cord,  and  socket. 


$i  .00 
0.50 
1.50 
i.  oo 
0.50 

I  .00 


Drop  cord  (without  canopy) . 
Water-proof  floor  receptacle. . 
Flush  baseboard  receptacle.... 
Standard  wall  socket. . 


$0.75 
3.00 
1.50 
0.50 


74 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


99.  Prices  of  Flexible  Metallic  Conduit  Wiring  for  Medium- 
grade  Finished  Buildings.  The  prices  apply  to  flats  renting  for 
from  $25  to  $40  per  month  and  houses  renting  for  from  $20  to  $50 
per  month,  of  semi-fireproof  construction.  Schedule  applies  only 
to  finished  houses  having  double  floors  of  hardwood  on  pine. 
Prices  of  wiring  for  switches  and  receptacles  from  101  to  be 
added  to  the  list  prices.  Prices  are  based  on  concealed  flexible 
metallic  conduit  work,  except  in  basement  where  rigid  conduit  is 
installed  exposed  on  the  ceiling.  Fixtures  and  lamps  are  not 
included. 


to 

3 

13 

Price 

• 

1, 

13 

Price 

£ 

IB 

i3 

Price 

Class   I 
building, 
2    story 

Class  II 
building, 
3    story 

Class   I 
building, 
2    story 

Class   II 
building, 
3    story 

Class   I 
building, 
2    story 

Class   II 
building, 
3    story  . 

10 

$50.00 

$   70.00 

28 

$  92  .00 

$Il6.OO 

46 

$138.00 

$173.50 

II 

52.00 

72  .OO 

29 

94.00 

IlS.OO 

47 

140.00 

176.50 

12 

54.00 

74.00 

30 

96.00 

I2O.OO 

48 

143  .00 

179.50 

13 

59.00 

Sl.OO 

3i 

98.00 

122  .OO 

49 

148.00 

186.50 

14 

61  .00 

83.00 

32 

100.00 

124.00 

50 

151.00 

190.00 

15 

63.00 

85.00 

33 

IO2  .OO 

I26.OO 

5i 

154.00 

193.50 

16 

65.00 

87.00 

34 

IO4.OO 

I28.OO 

52 

157.00 

197.00 

17 

67.00 

89.00 

35 

106.00 

130.00 

53 

160.00 

2OO.OO 

18 

69.00 

91  .OO 

36 

IO8.OO 

132.00 

54 

163  .00 

203.00 

iQ 

71.00 

93-00 

37 

113.00 

143.00 

55 

166.00 

206.00 

20 

73.00 

95.00 

38 

116.00 

146.50 

56 

169  .00 

209  .OO 

21 

75.00 

97.00 

39 

119.00 

150.00 

57 

172.00 

212.00 

22 

77.00 

99.00 

40 

122.00 

153-00 

58 

175.00 

215.00 

23 

79.00 

IOI  .OO 

4i 

125.00 

156.50 

59 

178.00 

218.00 

24 

81.00 

103.00 

42 

128.00 

159.50 

60 

181  .00 

221  .OO 

25 

86.00 

IIO.OO 

43 

130.50 

l62  .50 

61 

186.00 

226  .OO 

26 

88.00 

112  .OO 

44 

133.00 

165.50 

62 

189.00 

229.00 

27 

90.00 

II4.OO 

45 

I35-50 

168.50 

100.  Prices  of  Flexible  Metallic  Conduit  Wiring  for  High-grade 
Finished  Buildings.  Prices  for  lamp  outlets  in  high-class  apart- 
ments and  medium-sized  residences  renting  for  $50  per  month, 
with  hardwood  finish  throughout.  Prices  of  fixtures  not  included. 
Prices  of  wiring  for  switches  and  receptacles  from  101  must  be 
added.  Prices  are  based  on  concealed  flexible  metallic  conduit 
work,  except  in  basements  where  rigid  conduit  is  used  exposed 
on  the  ceiling,  in  buildings  with  hardwood  floors  over  pine  floors. 
Fixtures  and  lamps  are  not  included. 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


75 


Lights 

Price 

Lights 

Price 

Class  III 
building, 
2  floors 

Class  IV 
building, 
3  floors 

Class  III 
building, 
2  floors 

Class  IV 
building, 
3  floors 

10 

$75.00 

$88.00 

36 

$161  .OO 

$182.00 

II 

78.00 

91  .00 

37 

166.00 

189.00 

12 

Sl.OO 

94.00 

38 

169.50 

I93-50 

13 

89.00 

99.00 

39 

173.00 

198.00 

14 

92  .OO 

IO2  .OO 

40 

176.50 

202.50 

15 

95.00 

105.00 

4i 

iSo.OO 

207  .OO 

16 

98.00 

IO8.0O 

42 

183.00 

2  I  I  .  OO 

17 

IOI  .OO 

I  I  I  .  OO 

43 

186.00 

215  .OO 

18 

104.00 

II4.OO 

44 

189  .OO 

219.00 

19 

107  .00 

117  .00 

45 

192  .OO 

223.00 

20 

IIO.OO 

I  20.00 

46 

195.00 

227.00 

21 

113.00 

123.50 

47 

198.00 

231  .00 

22 

116  .00 

127  .00 

48 

201  .00 

235.00 

23 

119.00 

130.50 

49 

206  .  oo 

242  .OO 

24 

121  .OO 

134.00 

50 

210.00 

246.50 

25 

126.00 

141  .00 

5i 

2I4.OO 

251  .00 

26 

129.50 

145.00 

52 

218.00 

255.50 

27 

133.00 

149.00 

53 

2  2  2  .  OO 

260.00 

28 

136.50 

153.00 

54 

226.00 

264.50 

2Q 

140.00 

157.00 

55 

229.50 

268.50 

3° 

143.00 

161  .00 

56 

233.00 

272.50 

31 

146.00 

164.50 

57 

236.50 

276.50 

32 

149  .00 

168.00 

58 

240  .  oo 

280.50 

33 

152.00 

171.50 

59 

243-50 

284.50 

34 

155.00 

i75.oo 

60 

247.00 

288.50 

35 

158.00 

178.50 



101.  Price  of  Flexible  Metallic  Conduit  Wiring  for  Finished 
Buildings — Cottages.  This  is  called  Class  V.  The  prices  are 
those  charged  the  customer.  This  list  is  for  one-story  cottages 
with  open  attic.  Prices  of  wiring  for  switches  and  receptacles 
as  given  in  101  must  be  added.  Prices  of  fixtures  and  lamps 
not  included.  The  prices  are  based  on  concealed  flexible  metallic 
conduit  work,  except  in  basement  where  rigid  conduit  exposed 
on  the  ceiling  is  used. 


Number  of  lights 

Price 

Seven  to  twelve 

$•?<;  .00 

Thirteen                                                         

39  .00 

Fourteen                                                                    .    

41  .00 

Fifteen 

43  .00 

Sixteen     .    .          .                               

45  -oo 

Seventeen  

47-00 

76 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


lOla.  Prices  of  the  Edison  Electric  Illuminating  Company 
of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  for  Wiring  Finished  Buildings.1  Prices 
cover  concealed  wiring  with  armored  cable.  Spun-brass  chain- 
pendent  fixtures  are  furnished  where  such  are  suitable.  If  the 
standard  fixtures  are  not  desired  the  deductions  given  can  be 
made  accordingly.  See  Par.  60a  for  description  of  campaign  and 
terms  of  payment. 


Outlet  location 

Item 
No. 

Discription  of  Work 

Price, 

$ 

Kitchen        .... 

I 

Outlet  consisting  of  a  baseboard  or  wall  flush 

Cellar 

2 

receptacle,  installed  in  kitchen  on  first  floor, 
and  one  ceiling  outlet  with  one-lamp  fixture 
and  pull-chain  socket  
Ceiling  receptacle  in  cellar  at  heating  appa- 

19-45 

Hall  .... 
Dining-room.  .  .  . 
Piazza  

3 
4 
5 

ratus  with  flush  switch  at  head  of  cellar  stairs 
Ceiling  outlet  in  hall  with  one-lamp  chain 
fixture  and  pull-chain  socket  (if  wall  bracket 
fixture  is  desired  instead  deduct  85  cents).  .  . 
Dining-room  outlet  with  three-lamp  shower 
fixture,  pull-chain  sockets  (if  amber  glass 
dome  is  desired  instead  add  $1.50)  
Outlet  on  piazza,  with   ceiling   fixture  and 

7-75 
8.10 

II-7S 

globe  with  switch  in  hall  

10.  OO 

Bedroom 

6 

Bedroom  outlet  with  two-lamp  shower  fix- 

ture, pull-chain  sockets 

8.00 

Parlor. 

7 

Parlor  outlet  with  four-lamp  shower  fixture, 

pull-chain  sockets.                             

10.  no 

China  closet.  .  .  . 
Back  porch  

8 
9 

China  closet  outlet  and  bracket  fixture  with 
pull-chain  socket  
Back  porch  outlet  and  bracket  fixture  with 
switch 

6.20 
IO    7C 

Pantry 

10 

Pantry  outlet  and  one-lamp  bracket  fixture 

with  pull-chain  socket                          

6.  20 

Bathroom  

ii 

Bathroom  outlet  and  one-lamp  nickel-plated 
fixture   pull-chain  socket 

6  20 

All  other  outlets 

12 
13 

All   other   lighting   outlets    with   one-lamp 
bracket  fixture,  pull-chain  socket  
Two  three-way  switches  for  controlling  hall 
lamp  from  upper  or  lower  floor  

6.  20 
9-9° 

14 
J5 

Floor,  baseboard,  wall,  or  ceiling  receptacles 
Bell-ringing    transformers    for    alternating 
current  only 

4-95 
4   0"? 

Installing  risers 

16 

i7 

Flush  wall  switches  
For  each  additional  floor  bove  first  floor  add 

3.85 
5-50 

1  Electrical  World,  Oct.  3,  1914. 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


77 


Deductions  for  fixtures  if  personal  selection  is  desired 


No    i 

Si  ^o 

No    6 

$3  o^ 

No.  3. 

2.  IO 

No.  7  

5-5° 

No.  4  
No.  5  

4.65 

o.  70 

Nos.  8,  9,  10,  n,  12,  each... 

1-25 

102.  Price  schedule  of  the  Union  Electric  Light  and  Power 
Company,  St.  Louis.  An  outline  of  the  campaigns  of  this  concern 
is  given  elsewhere.  The  prices  given  do  not  include  lamps 
nor  cover  outlets  in  brick  walls. 


Item 


Price 


One  outlet  in  each  of  any  two  rooms  on  one  floor,  and  in  addition 
thereto  one  baseboard  or  wall  outlet  equipped  with  receptacle  for 
electrical  appliance  attachment,  ready  for  service  connection. . . 

One  additional  outlet  on  next  floor 

Each  additional  outlet  on  same  floor  with  other  outlets 

Each  switch  outlet  with  flush  wall  switch  (single  pole) 

Each  two-circuit  switch  outlet  with  electrolier  switch 

Each  switch  outlet  with  flush  wall  switch  (combination  three-way) . 

Each  addtional  baseboard  or  wall  outlet  with  receptacle  for  elec- 
trical appliance  attachment 

One  outlet  in  basement  with  switch  on  first  floor  (including  flush 
switch) 

One  outlet  in  basement  of  second-floor  apartment  with  switch  on 
second  floor  (including  flush  switch) 

Each  additional  basement  outlet  on  same  switch 

Each  drop  cord  with  socket 

Each  pendent  switch 

Additional  charge  for  wiring  where  there  are  double  floors — per 
ceiling  or  floor  outlet 


$17-95 
7.00 

2  .OO 
3.00 

4-50 
4.00 

3-75 

5.00 

10  .00 

1. 00 

1 .00 
1 .00 


The  prices  are  for  concealed  knob-and-tube  work. 

103.  Rates  Charged  by  a  Company  in  a  City  in  the  North 
Central  Portion  of  the  United  States  for  Wiring  Finished  Build- 
ings. The  "  base  charge  "  mentioned  in  the  following  table  covers 
the  expense  of  getting  workmen  and  material  to  and  from  the 
premises  to  be  wired.  All  openings  for  switches,  receptacles, 
drop  cords  and  fixtures  are  classed  as  outlets.  The  prices  quoted 
apply  only  to  houses  of  ordinary  construction.  They  entitle  the 
customer  to  an  extra  wall  receptacle  in  the  kitchen  and  an  extra 
socket  on  the  dining-room  fixture  without  additional  charge. 
Houses  of  fireproof  or  other  special  construction  require  special 


78 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


estimates.  Service  connections  are  made  by  the  company  on 
its  lines  free  of  charge  when  the  service  is  overhead.  For  under- 
ground service  there  is  a  charge  of  50  cents  per  lineal  foot,  and 
measurement  is  made  from  the  curb  line  to  the  inside  wall  of  the 
building. 


Item 


Price 


Single  flooring — base  charge $4 .00 

Outlet  charge,  per  outlet , 3  .00 

Double  flooring — base  charge 4 .  oo 

Outlet  charge,  per  outlet 4 .00 

Hardwood  flooring — base  charge 4 .00 

Outlet  charge,  per  outlet 4 .00 

PRICES  OF  SWITCHES,  ETC.  : 

Push-button  switches,  each $i  .00 

Push-button  three-way  switches,  per  set  of  two  switches 2  .50 

Rotary  switches,  each i  .00 

Rotary  three-way  switches,  per  set  of  two  switches 2  . 50 

Snap  switches,  each o .  50 

Snap  switches,  three-way,  per  set  of  two  switches 1.50 

Bryant  flush  plate  receptacles i  .00 

Chapman  flush  plate  receptacles 1.25 

Hubbel  baseboard  receptacles 1.25 

Drop  cord  with  key  socket o .  75 

Drop  cord  with  chain  pull  socket i  .00 

Prices  are  for  concealed  knob-and-tube  work. 

104.  Charges  Made  by  the  Mobile  Electric  Company  for 
Wiring  and  Furnishing  Lamps  and  Fixtures  for  Five-room 
Cottages.  This  property  is  operated  by  the  Byllesby  company. 
Prices  are  for  concealed  knob-and-tube  work.  Three  propositions 
were  offered: 

1.  WIRING  AND  DROP-CORD  FIXTURES  COMPLETE  WITH  LAMPS: 
Five  drop  cords,  five  ornamental  glass  shades,  five  lamps — sup- 
plying light  for  living-room,  dining-room,  kitchen  and  two  bed- 
rooms.    Price,  $8;  inspection  fee,  $i;  total,  $9. 

2.  WIRING,  TWO  TWO-LIGHT  FIXTURES  AND  THREE  DROP-CORD 
FIXTURES  COMPLETE  WITH  LAMPS  :    Two  two-light  fixtures,  three 
drop  cords,  six  ornamental  glass  shades,  seven  lamps — supplying 
two  lights  in  the  living-room,  two  in  the  dining-room  and  one  in 
each  of  the   other  rooms.     Price,  $10.75;  inspection  fee,  $1.50; 
total  $12.25. 


COSTS  AND  PRICES  79 

3.  WIRING  AND  SQUARE  TUBING  FIXTURES  COMPLETE  WITH 
LAMPS  :  Seven  lights,  with  artistic  fixtures,  square  brass  tubing 
fixtures  instead  of  drop  cord;  wall  fixtures  where  desired;  two 
fixtures  with  two  lights  each,  the  others  one  each.  Price,  $12.50; 
inspection  fee,  $1.50;  total,  $14. 

106.  Schedule  of  Prices  Charged  for  Finished-building  Wir- 
ing by  the  Edison  Electric  Illuminating  Company  of  Boston, 
Mass.  See  the  example  that  follows  for  an  illustration  of  their 
application.  Wiring  is  with  armored  cable. 

No.  i — Outlet  consisting  of  a  flush  plug  receptacle  located  in  any 

room  on  the  first  floor  anywhere  excepting  ceiling $14 .35 

No.  2 — No.  i  and  outlet  in  cellar  at  heating  apparatus  with 

switch  in  hall  and  fixture 19 .00 

No.  3 — No.  i  and  i  outlet  on  piazza  with  switch  in  hall  and 

fixture 22 .00 

No.  4 — No.  i  and  i  outlet  in  hall  with  switch  and  fixture  (three- 
way  switches  $6  additional) 23  .00 

No.  5 — No.  i  and  i  outlet  in  parlor  with  switch  and  fixture.  . .  25  .50 

No.  6 — No.  i;  No.  2;  No.  3 27 .00 

No.  7 — No.  i;  No.  2;  No.  4 28 .00 

No.  8 — No.  i;  No.  2;  No.  5 30.50 

No.  9 — No.  i;  No.  3;  No.  4 31 .00 

No.  10 — No.  i   No.  3;  No.  5 33 .50 

No.  1 1 — No.  i   No.  4;  No.  5 34 . 50 

No.  12 — No.  i   No.  2;  No.  3;  No.  4 36.00 

No.  13 — No.  i   No.  2 ;  No.  3 ;  No.  5 38 . 50 

No.  14 — No.  i   No.  2 ;  No.  4;  No.  5 39 . 50 

No.  15 — No.  i   No.  3;  No.  4;  No.  5 42 .00 

No.  16 — No.  i   No.  2;  No.  3;  No.  4;  No.  5 47  .50 

Additions  (to  apply  only  after  No.  3) : 

No.  17 — Dining-room  outlet  with  switch  and  fixture 12. oo 

No.  1 8 — Kitchen  outlet  with  switch  and  fixture 8.25 

No.  19 — Pantry  outlet  and  fixture 4 . 25 

No.  20 — China-closet  outlet  and  fixture 4.25 

No.  21 — Back  porch  outlet  with  switch  and  fixture 8 .00 

No.  22 — Second-story  hall  outlet  with  two  three-way  switches 

and  fixture 11.25 

No.  23 — Bathroom  outlet  with  switch  and  fixture 8 .25 

No.  24 — All  other  lighting  outlets  with  fixtures  each 4-25 

No.  25 — All  other  switches,  each 4 .00 

No.  26 — Floor  or  baseboard  receptacles,  each 4 .00 

No.  27 — Bell-ringing  transformer 4 .00 

For  each  additional  floor  above  the  first  floor: 


80  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

No.  28 — Add  $5  for  Item  No.  i  (extra  charge  is  to  provide  for 

running  risers  through  additional  floors). 
No.  29 — Add  $10  for  Items  No.  i  and  No.  2  (extra  charge  is  to 

provide  for  controlling  cellar  lighting  from  the  floor 

occupied  by  the  user). 

Deductions  if  not  wanted: 

Switches  (exclusive  of  cellar  switch),  each 3  .00 

For  fixtures  if  personal  selection  is  desired: 

Nos.  3  and  6,  each i .  oo 

Nos.  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24,  each i  .25 

Nos.  4  and  6,  each 2  .00 

Nos.  5  and  8,  each 4 . 50 

Nos.  9  and  12,  each 3  .  oo 

Nos.  10  and  13,  each 5  . 50 

Nos.  1 1  and  14,  each 6.50 

Nos.  15  and  16,  each 7  .50 

No.  17 5 .00 

See  Fig.  184  for  illustrations  of  fixtures. 

106.  Example  of  the  application  of  the  Boston  Company's 
schedule  to  the  wiring  of  a  third-story  apartment  requiring  the 
following  equipment:  Kitchen — one  receptacle,  one  center  lamp 
on  pull-socket,  no  switch;  parlor — one  three-lamp  fixture  with 
pull-socket,  no  switch;  hall — one  single-lamp  fixture  on  switch,  one 
baseboard  receptacle,  hall  closet — one  single  fixture,  no  switch; 
dining-room — one  four-lamp  fixture  on  switch;  bathroom — one 
single-lamp  fixture  on  pull-socket,  no  switch;  pantry — one  single- 
lamp  fixture  on  pull-socket;  chamber — one  three-lamp  fixture  with 
pull-socket,  no  switch. 

Applying  the  schedule  given  in  the  preceding  paragraph: 

One  No.  u,  less  one  switch  (receptacle  in  kitchen,  hall  and  parlor  light- 
ing)    $31-50 

One  No.  1 7  (dining-room  lighting) 1 2  .  oo 

One  No.  18,  less  one  switch  (kitchen  lighting) 5.25 

One  No.  19  (pantry  lighting) 4.25 

One  No.  23,  less  one  switch  (bathroom  lighting) 5.25 

One  No.  24  (hall  closet  lighting) 4.25 

One  No.  24  less  fixture,  plus  one  No.  8  fixture  (chamber  lighting) ...  7  . 50 

One  No.  26  (hall  baseboard  receptacle) 4  .00 

Two  No.  28  (third -floor  apartment) 10 .00 

Nine  pull-sockels  (kitchen,  pantry,  bathroom,  parlor  and  chamber)  . .  2  .25 

Total , , . ,  $86  ,25 


COSTS  AND  PRICES 


81 


107.  Prices  and  Terms  of  Payments  of  The  Muncie  (Ind.) 
Electric  Light  Company.  See  Par.  67  for  data  relating  to  the 
Munice  Company's  campaign.  The  prices  are  for  concealed  knob- 
and-tube  work.  If  the  company  handles  the  account  for  the 
contractor  on  the  installment  plan,  the  price  is  the  same  as  if  the 
consumer  pays  the  contractor  cash.  Prices  include  the  installa- 
tion of  drop  cords  and  sockets,  but  the  same  prices  cover  the 
hanging  of  fixtures  (fixtures  to  be  furnished  by  the  consumer)  if 
they  are  desired. 


Outlets 

Wiling 
prices 

Type  of  switch 

Switch 
prices 

So  oo 

Single-pole  snap   

$l  .40 

II   oi 

Flush  switch                                                      .  . 

I    O1? 

5" 

1  3    OO 

Cellar  outlet,   complete  with  switch  

2  .  2O 

6 

7 

15.90 

17    7O 

Porch  outlet,   complete  with  flush    switch.... 
Porch  outlet,   complete  with  snap  

2-75 

2  .  so 

8 

IO    7O 

Three-way  push    flush                  

e    ro 

9 

21  .70 

Three-way    snap  

5  -oo 

Where  more  than  nine  outlets  are  required  for  a  job,  $1.70 
is  added  to  the  price  for  each  additional  outlet.  The  rates  of 
payment  are: 


Houses  of 


Cash  payment     |  Monthly  payment 


Three  rooms 

$i  98 

So    7O 

Four  rooms  

2  .  3Q 

o  .06 

Five  rooms  .           

2    78 

II 

Six  rooms 

•?   18 

27 

Seven  rooms 

8     S4 

A  2 

Eight  rooms 

3O4 

s8 

Nine  rooms.  

A,  74 

c8 

Ten  rooms 

4  68 

87 

Eleven  rooms 

502 

2    OI 

Twelve  rooms  

5.36 

2.14 

108.  Rates  charged  by  the  Kansas  City  Electric  Company  for 
wiring  finished  buildings  are  given  in  the  following  table.  Prices 
are  for  roughing  in  only  and  do  not  include  fixtures,  lamps  or 
switches.  The  prices  are  for  knob-and-tube  work.  Class  A 
wiring  is  that  where  the  company  removes  and  replaces  the  floor- 


82 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


ing  at  its  expense.     Class  B  wiring  is  that  where  the  occupant 
removes  and  replaces  the  flooring  at  his  own  expense. 


_w 

I 

figs 

*n  .2  ^  rt 
J  a  I* 

3  a,a  §• 

0  ~ 

'$  :_3  3 
°  "    'C   o 

•"?    w    O 

j§  ««  ° 

Number  of  outlets 

pg  'M  a  ,rt 
•t!  .S  £  -j3 

Ills 

0  "3 

ir.fi 

o  "    '£    ° 

•o  i  I  & 

0  "« 

I 

y 

ins 

J£ 

O    "3 

'G   o 

1 

S^Tj 
3 

£  ° 

1 

g| 
'C   o 

1 

.§1 

£  ° 

5 

$19.81 

$3.99 

$14.86 

$2.99 

34 

$74.3! 

$2.18 

$55-70 

$1.64 

6 

22.31 

3.72 

16.73 

2.80 

35 

76  .06 

2.18 

57.05 

1.63 

7 

24.81 

3-55 

18.61 

2.66 

36 

77.81 

2.16 

58.36 

1.62 

8 

27.31 

3-42 

20.49 

2-57 

37 

79.56 

2.16 

59.67 

1.61 

9 

29.81 

3-32 

22.36 

2.50 

38 

81.29 

2.14 

60.97 

i.  60 

10 

32.31 

3.23 

24.24 

2.44 

39 

83.24 

2.15 

62.43 

i.  60 

n 

34.06 

2-75 

25.55 

2.32 

40 

85.31 

2.15 

63.98 

i.  60 

12 

35.8i 

2.98 

26.86 

2  .22 

41 

87.46 

2.15 

65.60 

i  .60 

13 

37.56 

2.89 

28.17 

2.13 

42 

89.51 

1.15 

67.17 

i.  60 

14 

39-31 

2.8o 

29.48 

2  .10 

43 

91.56 

2.15 

68.67 

i.  60 

15 

41.06 

2-74 

30.80 

2.05 

44 

93.61 

2.15 

7O.2I 

i.  60 

16 

42.81 

2.68 

32.08 

2  .OO 

45 

95.66 

2.14 

71.75 

i.  60 

17 

44.56 

2.62 

33-42 

1.97 

46 

98.71 

2.14 

74.03 

1.61 

18 

46.31 

2.58 

34-73 

1-93 

47 

99.76 

2.12 

74.82 

1-59 

19 

48.06 

2-54 

36.05 

1.90 

48 

101.81 

2.12 

76.36 

1-59 

20 

49.81 

2.48 

37.36 

1.87 

49 

103.86 

2.12 

77.92 

i.59 

21 

51.56 

2.46 

38.67 

1.86 

50 

105.91 

2  .  12 

78.43 

1.59 

22 

53.31 

2.42 

38.98 

1.86 

51 

107.96 

2.12 

80.97 

1-59 

23 

55.o6 

2  .40 

41.32 

i.  80 

52 

110.  01 

2  .12 

82.24 

1-59 

24 

56.81 

2-37 

42  .61 

1.78 

53 

112  .06 

2.12 

84.05 

i.59 

25 

58.56 

2-34 

43.92 

1-75 

54 

II4.II 

2  .12 

86.ii 

1.59 

26 

60.31 

2.32 

45-24 

1.74 

55 

116.16 

2  .12 

87.05 

1.58 

27 

62.06 

2.30 

46.55 

1.73' 

56 

118.21 

2.12 

88.66 

1.58 

28 

63.81 

2.28 

47-86 

1.70 

57 

120.26 

2  .12 

90.20 

1.58 

29 

65.56 

2.26 

49-17 

1.69 

58 

122.31 

2.12 

91.80 

1.58 

30 

67.31 

2.24 

50.49 

1.68 

59 

124.36 

2  .  12 

93.27 

1.58 

31 

69  .06 

2.23 

51.80 

1.67 

60 

126.41 

2  .12 

94.81 

1.58 

32 

70.81 

2  .20 

53.ii 

1.66 

33 

72.56 

2  .20 

54.42 

1.65 

COSTS  AND  PRICES 


83 


108a.  Prices  for  Finished-building  Wiring  Charged  by  the 
Indiana   and   Michigan   Electric   Company,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

(Electrical  World,  Oct.  3,  1914,  page  672).  An  outline  of  the 
campaign  is  given  in  Par.  66a.  The  prices  are  for  concealed 
knob-and-tube  work. 


Item 

Equipment 

Price 

I 
2 

3 

4 
5 
6 

Three  outlets  with  drop  cords,  lamps  and  shades... 
Four  outlets  with  drop  cords,  lamps  and  shades  
Five  outlets  with  drop  cords,  lamps  and  shades.  .  . 
Six  outlets  with  drop  cords,  lamps  and  shades.  .  .  . 
Seven  outlets  with  drop  cords,  lamps  and  shades.  . 
Additional  outlets,  each  

$Q.OO 
10.00 

11.50 
13.00 
14.50 
1.50 

109.  Rates  of  the  Citizens'  Gas  and  Electric  Company  for 
Finished-building  Wiring.  This  company  operates  in  Mt. 
Vernon,  111.,  a  city  of  about  10,000  inhabitants.  The  prices  are 
those  to  the  consumer  and  are  for  concealed  knob  and  tube  work. 


Item 


Price 


Each  outlet,  either  switch  or  light,  in  a  one-story  building 
Each  outlet,  either  switch  or  light,  in  a  two-story  building. . 

Drop  cord  and  socket  without  lamp 

One-light  fixture.     Pull  chain  socket 

Two-light  fixture  with  pendent  switch 

Surface  snap  switch 

Flush  snap  switch 

Porch  fixture. . . 


$1.25 
1.85 
0.50 
1.25 
2.85 
0-35 
o-75 
0-75 


Local  contractors  do  the  wiring  and  the  Citizens'  Company  pays 
them  cash  and  carries  the  account  for  the  consumer  who  may  pay 
on  the  installment  plan.  A  year's  time  is  given  the  consumer  in 
which  to  pay.  An  extra  charge,  added  to  the  above,  is  made  for 
lamps. 

110.  Prices  of  Concealed  Knob  and  Tube  Finished-building 
Wiring.  Prices  indicated  are  those  charged  the  consumer  for 
different  numbers  of  outlets,  single-floor  residence  construction. 
Fixtures  and  lamps  are  not  included.  All  openings  for  switches, 
drop  cords  and  fixtures  are  considered  as  outlets.  The  tabulated 
cost  of  switches,  receptacles  and  drop  cords  should  be  added 
to  the  price  of  outlets.  This  sum  will  be  the  contract  price  for  all 


84 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


labor  and  material  necessary  to  complete  the  work  as  outlined  in 
the  schedule. 

From  tables  prepared  for  use  of  new  business  solicitors  by  the 
Central  Station  Development  Company,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


No. 


Cost      |  No.  |      Cost      |  No.  |      Cost     |  No.  |      Cost     I  No.    |       Cost 


5 

$15-85 

J7 

$37.40 

29 

$57-20 

4i 

$77-82 

53 

$100.82 

6 

17-85 

18 

39.05 

30 

58.85 

42 

79.75 

54 

102.85 

7 

19.85 

19 

40.70 

3i 

60.50 

43 

81-75 

55 

104.77 

8 

21.85 

20 

42.35 

32 

62.15 

44 

83.60 

56 

106  .  70 

9 

23-85 

21 

44.00 

33 

63.80 

45 

85.50 

57 

108.62 

10 

25-85 

22 

45.65 

34 

65-45 

46 

87-45 

58 

110.55 

ii 

27.50 

23 

47.30 

35 

67  .10 

47 

89-37 

59 

112.47 

12 

29.15 

24 

48.95 

36 

68.75 

48 

91.30 

60 

114.40 

13 

30.80 

2C 

=;o  .60 

27 

70  .40 

40 

93  .  22 

•*o 

14. 

^w  •  *_>w 

22  AX 

o 
26 

•j  • 

?2  .  2^ 

O  / 

38 

72  .08 

T^V 
CQ 

vo  - 
nc  .  i  c 

*  *T 
15 

O    *  *fO 

34.10 

27 

0*o 

53-90 

o 

39 

/  *  •  W^ 

73  97 

ow 

51 

VO  •  0 

97.07 

.  .  .  . 

16 

35-75 

28 

55-55 

40 

75.90 

52 

99.00 



Add  as  per  following  for  outlets  under  other  than  single  floors 
and  for  hardware  and  drop  cords: 

Under  double  flooring  otherwise  than  hardwood.     Second  or  third  story. 

Ceiling  outlet $i .  oo  extra 

Switch  outlet  for  any  center  outlet i  .00  extra 

Under  hardwood  flooring,  single,  double  or  triple.     Second  and  third  story. 

Ceiling  outlet $3  .  oo  extra 

One  switch  outlet  for  any  center  outlet 3  .  oo  extra 

Additional  on  same  gang  for  same  center  outlet i  .50  extra 

Switches,  hardware  and  drop  cords  as  per  following: 

Push-button  switches,  each $i  .00  extra 

Push-button  three-way  switches,  per  set  of  two  switches  ...     2.75  extra 

Porcelain  base  switches,  each ° -35  extra 

Porcelain  base  Edison  receptacles,  each o  .35  extra 

Baseboard  flush  plate  receptacles,  each 1.15  extra 

Drop  cord,  key  sockets,  each o  .60  extra 

Drop  cord,  chain  sockets,  each 0.75  extra 


111.  Average   cost  of  wiring   finished  buildings  in  Europe 

i.  E.  Doane)  is  from  $2  to  $3  per  outlet.     The  average  rate 


Average   cost  or  wiring   nnisneo.  DUUQUIJ 

(S.  E.  Doane)  is  from  $2  to  $3  per  outlet.     The 
for  energy  is  12  to  14  cents  per  kw-hr. 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  85 


APPENDIX  TO  COMMERCIAL  SECTION 

SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  HOUSE-WIRING  CAMPAIGN  FOR  THE 
DAWSON  LIGHT  &  POWER  COMPANY  DAWSON,  OHIO. 

(This  specification,  substantially  as  here  reproduced,  was  prepared  by  the 
Department  of  Publicity  of  The  National  Lamp  Works  of  the  General  Electric 
Company  (Cleveland,  Ohio)  under  the  direction  of  P.  L.  Miles  who  specializes 
in  the  promotion  of  finished-building  wiring  campaigns.  Because  this 
specification  outlines  very  carefully  the  procedure  that  experience  has  shown 
to  be  best  for  the  inauguration  and  prosecution  of  a  campaign  in  the  average 
community,  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to  include  it  herein). 

FOREWORD 

Ilia.  Although  the  town  of  Dawson  is  fictitious,  the  house-wiring  cam- 
paign herein  outlined,  is  similar  in  many  respects  to  those  which  have  been 
thoroughly  tested  and  with  success  in  various  cities  throughout  the  country — 
cities  such  as  Birmingham,  Ala.,  Toledo,  Ohio,  Danbury,  Conn.,  and  Louis- 
ville, Ky.  Dawson  is  supposed  to  typify  a  town  of  about  25,000  to  50,000 
population.  In  this  town  there  is  an  active  lighting  company,  The  Dawson 
Light  &  Power  Company,  with  an  aggressive  new  business  manager. 

Prior  to  the  adoption  of  the  house-wiring  campaign  herein  outlined,  the 
new  business  department  was  wiring  finished  houses  or  a  hit-or-miss  basis. 
There  were  five  men  in  this  Department,  comprising  the  business-getting 
force  of  the  Dawson  Light  &  Power  Company.  When  one  of  these  men 
would  chance  upon  a  prospect  for  house- wiring  in  his  district,  he  would  call 
in  one  of  the  local  wiring  contractors  and  after  much  delay  this  contractor 
would  submit  an  estimate  to  the  salesman,  in  turn  to  be  submitted  to  the 
prospect.  Obviously  this  method  involved  a  great  waste  of  sales  energy. 

Next,  it  was  necessary  to  give  the  prospect  an  accurate  idea  of  the  cost  of 
fixtures.  In  some  instances  this  meant  a  trip  with  the  prospect  to  a  fixture 
house,  where  he  was  assisted  in  the  selection  of  his  fixtures  and  where  an  esti- 
mate of  their  cost  was  obtained.  And  finally  it  was  necessary  to  induce 
this  prospect  to  make  a  cash  outlay  of  $50  or  $60  or  at  best  allow  him  thirty 
days  in  which  to  pay  for  the  wiring  and  fixtures.  Furthermore,  the  prospect 
was  not  protected  by  a  contract  or  specifications. 

The  business  was  not  increasing  as  it  should.  Too  great  a  period  elapsed 
between  the  time  at  which  the  prospect  was  interviewed  and  the  time  at  which 
he  was  given  an  estimate  for  the  cost  of  the  work.  Sometimes  the  prospect 
became  "cold."  The  salesmen's  hands  were  tied.  They  could  not  present  a 
proposition  in  its  entirety.  It  is  strange  selling  when  a  salesman  cannot  quote 
prices  on  the  commodity  he  offers.  But  such  were  the  conditions  in  Dawson. 

Advertising  had  been  used  in  the  daily  newspapers  in  a  desultory  way.  But 
it  was  not  the  right  kind  of  advertising.  It  was  good  general  publicity,  but 
it  did  not  endeavor  to  produce  results  by  inducing  the  prospects  to  make  in- 
quiries. Furthermore,  it  did  not  have  the  appeal  of  a  "special  proposition," 


86  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

but  dealt  principally  with  the  safety,  cleanliness,  and  convenience  of  electric- 
ity. With  these  features  the  people  of  Dawson  are  more  or  less  familiar. 

The  campaign  herein  outlined  was  then  adopted.  The  letters  supplemented 
by  the  other  advertising  produced  inquiries.  When  these  inquiries  were 
"followed  up"  by  a  salesman,  he  had  a  definite  proposition  to  offer:  the  price 
of  wiring,  the  price  of  fixtures  and  the  price  of  lamps.  The  salesman  could 
quote  the  prospect  the  total  cost  of  becoming  a  user  of  electricity.  After 
submitting  his  estimate,  the  salesman  could  explain  the  terms  of  payment: 
suggesting  that  the  lighting  company  would  finance  the  customer  for  a  period 
of  twelve  months.  The  customer  could  also  be  told  how  the  work  would  be 
done  and  how  his  (the  consumer's)  interests  would  be  protected  by  a  con- 
tract and  specifications. 

The  justification  of  this  methodical  campaign  was  soon  apparent.  Inquiry 
cards  began  to  pour  in,  and  these  cards,  when  followed  up  by  a  solicitor, 
brought  concrete  results. 

Consider  Toledo,  Ohio,  for  instance:  Here  in  the  course  of  two  months, 
585  householders  contracted  for  electric  service — and  became  revenue  pro- 
ducers for  the  lighting  company.  To  apply  a  similar  methodical  campaign 
like  that  outlined  herein  to  any  city  involves  very  little  change — just  enough 
to  adapt  it  to  local  conditions.  A  few  changes  may  be  necessary,  due  to  the 
fact  that  some  stations  engage  in  the  wiring  business,  yet  these  changes  may 
easily  be  made. 

OUTLINE  OF  HOUSE-WIRING  CAMPAIGN  FOR  DAWSON  LIGHT 
&  POWER  CO.,  DAWSON,  OHIO 

lllb.  Object  of  Campaign.  The  object  of  this  campaign  is  to  induce 
home  owners  to  install  electric  service,  and  thereby  become  customers  of  the 
Dawson  Light  &  Power  Co. 

lllc.  Analysis  of  Field.  The  records  of  the  Dawson  Light  &  Power 
Company  show  that  there  are  150x3  residential  customers  in  the  city  of 
Dawson.  Upon  a  basis  of  a  population  of  50,000  people,  there  are  10,000 
homes  in  Dawson.  (These  figures  are  based  on  the  United  States  census, 
which  shows  an  average  of  5  people  to  a  home).  Consequently  deducting 
the  present  customers  of  the  central  station,  there  are  in  the  neighborhood  of 
8500  unwired  homes  in  Dawson. 

It  is  estimated  that  at  least  25  per  cent,  of  these  people  own  their  own  homes 
— 2100  home  owners.  Inasmuch  as  it  is  much  easier  to  induce  a  home  owner 
to  wire  his  house  than  it  is  to  obtain  a  contract  from  a  landlord  or  a  tenant,  it 
is  recommended  that,  for  the  present,  all  efforts  toward  the  wiring  of  homes  in 
Dawson  be  confined  to  this  one  class  of  prospects,  namely  home  owners.  The 
question  of  a  campaign  among  tenants  and  landlords  can  be  considered  later. 

llld.  Time-payment  Proposition.  It  is  ascertained  from  the  Dawson 
National  Bank  that  the  average  income  of  the  working  man  in  Dawson  is 
somewhat  less  than  $80  per  month.  In  view  of  this  low  average  wage,  it 
is  recommended  that  a  time-payment  plan  be  adopted — the  central  station 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  87 

paying  the  contractor  cash,  upon  the  completion  of  a  job  and  upon  its  accept- 
ance by  the  owner,  and  then  financing  the  consumer  for  a  period  of  twelve 
months. 

llle.  Wiring,  Fixtures  and  Lamps.  No  house  can  use  central  station 
energy  until  it  has  been  wired,  and  the  fixtures  and  lamps  installed.  It  is 
therefore  recommended  that  fixtures  and  lamps  be  treated  as  of  equal  impor- 
tance with  the  wiring,  and  that  they  can  be  included  in  the  time-payment 
proposition.  Experience  in  other  cities  has  shown  that,  where  time  payments 
were  arranged  on  the  wiring  alone,  that  the  lack  of  fixtures  and  the  relatively 
large  initial  expense  incident  to  their  installation  was  often  responsible  for 
refusals  to  sign  contracts. 

In  this  connection  it  is  recommended  that  the  prospective  customer  be  given 
the  opportunity  of  purchasing  complete  fixture  sets  similar  to  those  shown  in 
Figs.  184  to  187.  If  this  is  done,  the  central  station  salesmen  can  present  the 
house-wiring  proposition  in  its  entirety  to  the  prospect,  including  wiring,  fix- 
tures and  lamps — ready  to  connect  to  the  central  station  circuits.  It  is  also 
recommended  that  four  of  these  sets  be  prepared  as  standard,  the  sets  varying 
in  style  and  price,  thus  permitting  the  customer  to  make  a  selection  that  ap- 
peals to  his  taste  or  is  within  his  means.  Each  salesman  should  be  supplied 
with  photographic  reproductions  of  these  fixture  sets,  and  a  list  of  their  prices. 

As  stated  above,  many  house- wiring  contracts  have  not  been  signed  because 
of  the  fact  that  prospects  have  had  trouble  in  selecting  and  purchasing 
fixtures.  If  the  central  station  is  prepared  to  furnish  sets  similar  to  those 
shown,  this  obstacle  is  eliminated.  An  exact  photographic  reproduction  of 
each  set  may  be  shown  to  the  customer  by  the  central  station  salesman  and 
the  customer  may,  then  and  there,  make  his  selection  and  without  further 
trouble.  It  is  not  believed  advisable  that  it  be  mandatory  that  the  prospect 
select  one  of  these  standard  fixture  sets.  They  may  be  offered  to  him,  and  if 
they  do  not  satisfy,  others  may  then  be  purchased  from  a  fixture  house.  If 
the  fixtures  are  purchased  elsewhere,  their  cost  should  not  be  included  in  the 
time  payment  proposition. 

Inasmuch  as  it  is  against  the  policy  of  the  Dawson  central  station  to  mer- 
chandise fixtures  or  lamps,  the  fixture  sets  may  be  ordered  on  a  large  contract 
basis  from  the  manufacturers  and  supplied  by  the  station  to  the  dealers.  The 
price  to  the  customer  for  the  different  sets  may  be  decided  by  the  contractors 
themselves.  The  lamps  may  be  supplied  by  the  contractors  at  list  price. 

Another  reason  for  the  adoption  of  the  fixture  set  plan,  is  that  it  enables  the 
central  station  salesman  to  readily  give  an  estimate  of  the  complete  cost  of 
wiring,  fixtures  and  lamps.  This  is  an  important  feature,  for  it  rarely  occurs 
that  a  prospect  will  place  an  order  for  the  wiring  without  first  investigating  the 
fixture  cost.  This  may  consume  considerable  time  if  the  salesman  cannot 
offer  a  definite  fixture  proposition. 

lllf.  Basts  of  Estimating  House-wiring.  Under  the  existing  con- 
ditions in  Dawson,  when  a  prospect  for  house-wiring  is  located  by  the 
central  station  salesman,  it  is  necessary  to  obtain  for  him  an  estimate 
from  a  local  contractor.  This  usually  delays  the  closing  of  the  contract  and, 


88  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

in  some  instances,  it  results  in  the  loss  of  the  order.  The  prospect  may  be  pre- 
pared to  "close"  while  the  salesman  is  on  the  ground,  but  may  alter  his  in- 
tention if  there  is  delay.  It  is  therefore  recommended  that  some  system  be 
adopted  whereby  an  estimate  can  be  submitted  by  the  central  station  sales- 
man when  he  is  calling  upon  the  prospect. 

Moreover,  contractors  as  a  rule,  are  not  salesmen,  whereas  salesmanship  is 
the  business  of  the  central  station  representatives.  The  submission  of  an  esti- 
mate is  a  part  of  selling.  It  is  therefore  suggested  that  the  best  policy  that 
can  be  adopted  in  this  campaign  is  to  allow  the  central  station  salesmen  to 
handle  all  of  the  selling.  When  the  contract  is  signed  the  job  should  then  be 
transferred  to  the  wiring  contractor. 

It  is  advisable,  therefore,  that  the  electrical  contractors  in  Dawson  be 
mustered  for  a  conference  (possibly  for  luncheon)  and  that  the  proposition  of 
wiring  houses  on  a  flat-rate-per-o'utlet  basis  be  adopted.  The  price  to  be 
charged  per  outlet  may  then  be  determined  by  the  contractors  themselves  and 
submitted  to  the  station  for  acceptance.  It  is  recommended  that  such  a  meet- 
ing be  arranged  by  the  Dawson  Light  &  Power  Company. 

One  truth  that  should  be  impressed  on  these  contractors  is  that  the  "law 
of  averages"  governs  the  costs  of  wiring  homes.  A  contractor  may  lose 
money  on  one  particular  job,  due  to  the  unusual  construction  of  the  building. 
Yet  he  may  make  more  than  a  fair  profit  on  another  installation  because  it  can 
be  wired  very  readily.  The  law  of  averages  will,  however,  insure  the  con- 
tractor a  fair  return  on  all  houses  wired.  The  price  per  outlet  should  be  made 
high  enough  to  cover  these  conditions  and  assure  the  contractor  a  fair  margin 
of  profit. 

The  description  of  this  campaign  that  follows  is  based  on  the  adoption  of 
a  unit  or  price  per  outlet  method  of  estimating  wiring  cost.  Another  method 
which  might,  however,  be  considered  is  the  wiring  of  houses  of  a  certain  number 
of  rooms  on  a  flat-rate  basis.  Schemes  similar  to  this  have  been  in  successful 
operation  in  Brooklyn,  Baltimore  and  Boston. 

Another  tangible  reason  for  the  adoption  of  a  readily  handled  method  of  esti- 
mating the  cost  of  wiring  is  that  where  it  is  adopted  prospective  customers 
may  be  given  some  idea  of  the  cost  of  wiring  their  homes  through  printed  mat- 
ter such  as  form  letters  and  newspapers.  Many  people  have  an  exaggerated 
idea  regarding  the  cost  of  wiring  their  homes.  They  believe  it  to  be  so  expen- 
sive that,  thinking  it  beyond  their  means,  they  do  not  even  request  an  esti- 
mate. This  impression  must  be  defeated  by  giving  the  prospect  an  idea  of  the 
reasonableness  of  the  cost  of  installing  electric  service.  If  the  flat-rate  scheme 
is  adopted,  this  can  be  done  very  readily  through  newspaper  advertising. 

lllg.  Adoption  of  Contract  and  Specification.  The  adoption  of  definite 
specifications  for  house-wiring  has  been  found  very  helpful  to  central  station 
salesmen  in  other  cities.  Such  specifications  provide  "talking  points"  and 
thereby  materially  assist  the  sales  force.  Such  specifications  also  tend  to 
protect  the  interests  of  the  prospect,  and  insure  him  that  the  wiring  will  be 
safe,  modern  and  workmanlike.  This  one  feature  is  very  useful  in  converting  a 
prospect  relative  to  the  wiring  of  his  home.  With  the  monthly  payment  plan, 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  89 


CONTRACT  AND  SPECIFICATIONS  FOR  RESIDENCE  WIRING 

.  .  hereby  makes  application  to  THE 
DAWSON  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY,  hereinafter  called 

the  Company,  for  wiring  the  premises  located  at 

Street,  in  accordance  with  the  following  specifications  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  schedule  on  the  reverse  side  of  this  contract,  and  agrees 
to  pay  therefor  at  the  office  of  the  above  Company  the  sum  of 
dollars  ($ )  in  twelve  (12)  equal  monthly  install- 
ments of dollars  ($ )  each,  to  be  paid  on  or  before  the 

first  of  each  month  until  the  full  amount  has  been  paid.  Failure 
to  meet  such  payments  when  due  shall  render  the  installment  feature 
of  this  contract  void  and  the  remaining  payments  on  said  contract 
shall  become  due  at  once. 

The  Company  shall  have  the  said  premises  wired  complete,  in- 
cluding all  material  and  labor  necessary  to  do  the  work  shown  in  the 
specifications  and  schedule  of  work  and  material,  in  a  thoroughly 
substantial  and  workmanlike  manner. 

The  Company  agrees  to  have  the  work  commenced  within  five 
days  from  the  receipt  of  this  application,  duly  signed. 

The  Company  agrees  to  have  all  the  work  called  for  under  speci- 
fications and  schedule  completed  within  one  week  after  the  work  has 
been  started. 

SPECIFICATIONS 

All  material  used  and  work  done  under  these  specifications  must  be 
in  accordance  with  the  Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  National 
Electrical  Code. 

The  Company  shall  see  that  all  necessary  notices  are  given  to  the 
proper  authorities  and  shall  pay  for  a  certificate  of  approval. 

It  is  agreed  that  all  the  work  and  materials  used  in  connection  with 
this  wiring  installation  shall  be  protected  from  damage  by  weather  or 
otherwise,  and  it  is  further  agreed  that  the  applicant  shall  be  saved 
harmless  from  such  damage  thus  occurring. 

All  wires  must  be  concealed  between  the  floors  and  walls  except  in 
the  basement  where  molding  must  be  used,  or  where  it  is  impossible 
to  conceal  the  wires  over  the  ceiling  of  the  attic,  molding  must  be 
used,  all  wires  in  the  attic  to  side  outlets  to  be  concealed  where 
possible. 

All  necessary  cut  outs  must  be  provided. 

All  carpets  and  rugs  which  it  is  necessary  to  remove  to  complete 
the  work  must  be  removed  and  relaid. 

All  hardware  described  in  the  schedule  of  work  and  material  must 
be  provided  and  installed. 

All  hardware,  outlets,  lamps  or  fixtures  not  listed  in  the  schedule 
will  be  installed  upon  the  written  order  of  the  applicant,  who  agrees 
to  pay  for  such  work  at  the  rates  shown  in  the  schedule. 

The  applicant  must  locate  all  outlets  for  fixtures,  switches,  recep- 
tacles, and  drop  cords  before  the  work  is  started  and  it  is  not  neces- 
sary for  the  Company  to  change  such  locations  after  the  work  has 
been  started  or  finished. 

It  is  agreed  that  all  necessary  wiring  for  connecting  the  various 
circuits  to  the  meter  of  the  Company  is  included  in  this  application. 

It  is  further  agreed  that  the  work  including  wiring,  fixtures  and 
lamps,  will  be  installed  wherever  it  is  so  stipulated  in  the  classification 
of  work  and  material,  fixtures  and  lamps,  shown  on  the  reverse  side 
of  this  application. 

IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF  the  applicant  has  hereto  signed  his 

name  this  ....  day  of 191 . . 

(Applicant) 

The  above  application  is  accepted  this day  of 191 . . 

THE  DAWSON  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY 

By 

New  Business  Manager. 

(Reverse  side  of  this  contract  to  contain  schedules  similar  to  those 
of    Fig.     i9c.) 


FIG.  23^4. — Typical   wiring  agreement  between  central  station 
and  consumer. 


90  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

Par.  llld,  it  is  necessary  that  an  agreement  be  executed  between  the  central 
station  and  the  customer  and  also  that  one  be  executed  between  the  central 
station  and  the  contractor.  It  is  therefore  recommended  that  this  contract  also 
include  specifications,  as  outlined  in  Figs  23^4  and  23,6  of  this  report.  It  is 
advisable  to  submit  these  specifications  to  the  local  contractors  for  their  ap- 
proval. The  attorneys  of  the  central  station  company  should  pass  upon  the 
legality  of  the  contract  forms.  It  is  impossible  for  one  not  on  the  ground  to 
prepare  a  contract  and  specification  which  will  exactly  satisfy  local  conditions. 
These  points  must  be  settled  in  Dawson. 


CONTRACT  AND  SPECIFICATIONS  FOR  RESIDENCE  WIRING 

THE  DAWSON  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY,  hereinafter 

called  the  Company,  hereby  contract  with 

hereinafter  called  the  Contractor  for  wiring  the  premises  at 

Street,  in  accordance  with  the  following  specifications 

and  schedule  of  work  and  material  as  shown  on  the  reverse  side  of  this 

contract,  and  agrees  to  pay  therefore  the  sum  of dollars 

($ )  upon  the  completion  of  the  said  work,  upon  our  inspect- 
or's report  and  upon  the  receipt  of  a  signed  statement  from  the 
applicant  that  the  wiring,  fixtures  and  lamps  are  satisfactory  to  him. 

The  Contractor  shall  wire  the  said  premises  complete,  including  all 
material  and  labor  necessary  to  do  the  work  shown  in  the  specifica- 
tions and  schedule  of  work  and  material  in  a  thoroughly  substantial 
and  workmanlike  manner. 

The  Contractor  agrees  to  have  the  work  commenced  within  five 
days  from  the  receipt  and  acceptance  of  this  contract,  duly  signed. 

The  Contractor  agrees  to  have  all  the  work  called  for  "under  these 
specifications  and  schedule  completed  within  one  week  after  the  work 
has  been  started. 

SPECIFICATIONS 

(Similar  to  those  between  Central  Station  and  Consumer.) 


FIG.  2$B. — Typical  agreement  between  central  station  and  con- 
tractors. (Reverse  side  of  this  agreement  should  show  a  wiring 
schedule  similar  to  that  of  Fig.  IQC.) 

Our  recommendations  as  to  the  handling  of  the  con ti acts  are  as  follows: 
The  central  station  salesman  will  obtain  the  signature  of  the  prospect  on  two 
copies  of  the  contract-and-specifications.  The  contract  should  then  be 
accepted  by  the  lighting  company,  and  one  copy  should  be  returned  to  the 
prospect  for  his  file.  Another  agreement,  Fig.  23$,  between  the  central  sta- 
tion and  the  contractor  receiving  the  job  should  then  be  draughted  in  dupli- 
cate. Upon  the  contractor's  acceptance  of  the  contract  one  copy  should  be 
returned  to  the  central  station,  and  pasted  to  the  copy  of  the  customer's  con- 
tract and  filed  in  a  permanent  file.  The  specifications  and  "  schedule  of  work  " 
contained  in  the  customer's  contract  should  be  identical  with  those  contained  in 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  91 

the  contract  between  the  station  and  the  contractor.  Thus  the  central  sta- 
tion's interests  are  protected. 

As  previously  outlined,  the  customer  by  his  contract  agrees  to  pay  for  the 
work  in  twelve  monthly  installments.  By  virtue  of  its  contract  with  the 
wiring  contractor,  the  station  agrees  to  pay  for  the  work  upon  completion 
subject  to  the  written  acceptance  of  the  installation  by  the  customer  and  to  an 
inspection  by  a  representative  of  the  company  who  surveys  the  premises  wired 
to  verify  the  fulfillment  of  the  contract  and  specifications. 

It  is  further  recommended  that  a  form  (similar  to  that  of  Fig.  IQC)  be 
printed,  corresponding  to  the  "classification  of  work  and  material,"  as  shown 
later  in  this  report.  This  form  may  be  used  by  the  salesmen  for  estimating 
when  he  calls  upon  prospective  customers.  The  salesman,  if  he  is  unable  to 
close  the  deal,  may  then  leave  this  estimate  sheet  with  the  prospect  as  a  re- 
minder and  as  a  cost  proposal  for  wiring  the  home.  The  salesman  should 
write  his  name  upon  this  estimate  sheet  in  order  that  the  prospect  can  reach 
him  by  telephone. 

lllh.  Distribution  of  Contracts.  It  is  recommended  that  the  contracts 
as  they  are  closed  by  the  central  station  salesmen,  be  distributed  among  the 
local  contractors  in  an  impartial  manner — that  is  in  rotation.  However,  as  a 
means  of  stimulating  the  contractors  to  do  some  selling  themselves,  which  will 
chiefly  be  among  their  friends  and  acquaintances,  it  is  recommended  that  for 
every  contract  a  contractor  closes  for  the  central  station  that  he  receive  one 
wiring  contract  in  addition  to  the  number  that  he  ordinarily  would  receive. 
Such  a  bonus  should  be  awarded  only  where  the  contract  is  closed  without 
sales  expense  to  the  central  station.  There  is  no  discrimination  in  this  method, 
as  any  one  of  the  contractors  may  avail  himself  of  it.  Thus,  the  number  of 
bonus  contracts  which  a  contractor  receives  will  depend  entirely  upon  his 
individual  sales  initiative. 

Where  a  prospective  customer  expresses  to  the  central  station  salesmen  a 
desire  that  a  certain  contractor  be  allowed  to  do  the  work,  this  request  should 
be  granted.  The  contract  should  be  charged  to  the  contractor  as  one  of  his 
regular  allotted  number.  This  may  interfere  with  the  allotment  of  the  con- 
tracts in  rotation.  However  at  the  end  of  each  month  the  contracts  can  be  so 
distributed  that  each  contractor  will  have  received  an  equal  number.  The 
only  exception  being  where  a  contractor  is  given,  as  a  bonus,  extra  contracts  as 
a  reward  for  those  turned  in  by  him. 

llli.  Lighting  Installation.  The  practice  of  minimizing  the  number  of 
outlets  to  reduce  the  wiring  cost,  where  conditions  warrant  such  procedure,  is 
thoroughly  endorsed.  It  is  believed  that,  where  the  high  price  of  wiring  is 
interfering  with  the  closing  of  a  wiring  contract,  the  central  station  salesman 
should  eliminate  switches  and  even,  wherever  possible,  authorize  drop-cords 
instead  of  fixtures.  It  is  advisable  to  get  the  customer  on  the  line,  even  though 
the  lighting  installation  may  not  be  all  that  is  desired  from  an  engineering  or 
illumination  standpoint. 

From  the  viewpoint  of  central  station  revenue,  the  amount  of  income  will  be 
just  as  great  from  a  house  without  switches  and  fixtures,  as  from  a  house  hav- 


92  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

ing  these  conveniences.  Yet  the  wiring  of  the  home  will  be  the  entering 
wedge.  Ultimately,  doubtless,  a  more  complete  installation  will  result. 

Many  instances  have  occurred  where,  because  of  the  insistence  of  salesmen 
that  the  customer  install  several  switches,  three-way  switches,  baseboard 
receptacles  and  the  like,  the  customer  finally  refused  to  sign  a  contract.  The 
wiring  estimate  submitted  to  him  showed  a  price  far  beyond  his  means.  By 
eliminating  a  few  of  the  switches  the  salesmen  could  have  materially  reduced 
the  wiring  expense  and  overcome  the  objection  of  "too  much  money."  Elec- 
tricity, even  without  wall  switches,  is  more  convenient,  than  gas  or  oil.  The 
above  recommendations  only  apply  in  instances  where  it  is  impossible  to 
induce  the  customer  to  make  a  proper  lighting  installation — rather  than  per- 
mit the  house  to  remain  unwired,  the  alternative  proposition  of  a  low-price 
lighting  installation  should  be  presented.  Low-price  wiring  in  accordance 
with  these  recommendations  does  not  interfere  with  the  use  of  the  various, 
small  current-consuming  devices.  It  is  only  necessary  that  a  socket  be  avail- 
able to  provide  for  the  use  of  most  of  these  appliances. 

lllj.  Stimulation  of  Salesmen.  As  a  method  of  creating  interest  among 
the  salesmen  it  might  be  advisable  to  give  a  bonus  of  50  cents,  or  some  other 
specified  amount,  for  every  old-house-wiring  contract  closed  during  the  opera- 
tion of  this  campaign.  This  bonus  to  be  in  addition  to  the  regular  salary  of 
the  salesmen. 

The  salesmen  should  be  thoroughly  trained  in  the  method  of  estimating. 
With  little  experience  they  can  estimate  wiring,  fixture  and  lamp  jobs  com- 
plete in  a  few  minutes.  With  the  system  of  estimating  herein  outlined,  the 
salesmen  need  have  no  practical  wiring  experience. 

lllk.  Method  of  Estimating.  Following  is  given  the  method,  used  by  the 
salesmen,  in  estimating  the  cost  of  wiring  a  home.  (Refer  to  contract  and 
specification  forms,  Figs.  23^!  and  23$): 

ist.  Under  the  "classification  of  work  and  material"  (a  form  similar  to 
that  of  Fig.  IQC)  and  under  the  respective  columns  for  center  outlets,  side 
outlets,  etc.,  enter  the  proper  number  of  outlets  to  be  installed  for  each  room. 

2nd.  Under  the  fixture  column,  enter  the  number  of  the  fixture  set  or  the 
numbers  of  the  individual  fixtures  which  the  customer  has  selected  and  the 
cost  thereof. 

3rd.  Under  the  lamp  column,  enter  the  number  and  the  wattage  of  Mazda 
lamps  which  are  necessary  for  each  room  and  the  price  thereof. 

4th.  Total  the  number  of  outlets  and  multiply  by  the  rate-per-outlet,  as 
determined  by  the  contractors. 

5th.  Add  to  this  amount  the  cost  of  the  hardware,  such  as  baseboard 
receptacles,  switches,  drop  cords,  etc. 

6th.  Total  the  cost  of  wiring,  hardware,  fixtures  and  lamps,  this  total  being 
the  cost  of  the  light  installation.  Divide  this  amount  by  1 2,  thus  ascertaining 
the  amount  of  the  monthly  payment  which  the  customer  will  make. 

1111.  Relation  of  Advertising  to  Selling.  The  value  of  advertising  in 
connection  with  the  old-house  wiring  campaigns  is  usually  exaggerated. 
Advertising  alone,  will  not  effect  the  desired  results;  advertising,  plus  sales- 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  93 

manship  is  required.  The  prospect  may  be  interested  in  the  wiring  of  his 
home,  may  be  sufficiently  interested  to  send  in  an  inquiry  card  requesting  an 
estimate  or  the  call  of  a  salesman,  but  it  is  usually  impossible  to  induce  him, 
through  advertising,  to  send  in  an  actual  order  to  go  ahead  and  do  the  work. 
The  services  of  a  salesman  are  necessary  to  induce  him  to  sign  the  contract. 

First  of  all,  the  prospect  wants  to  know  the  cost  of  the  wiring  and  fixtures, 
whether  it  will  be  necessary  to  have  a  switch  in  a  certain  room,  whether  it  is 
advisable  to  have  a  center  or  a  side  outlet  in  another  room  ?  It  is  impossible 
to  answer  such  questions  in  advertisements.  It  is  necessary  for  the  salesman 
to  call  on  the  prospect  and  after  surveying  the  conditions,  then  he  can  answer 
these  questions  and  quote  prices.  Therefore,  if  the  advertising  is  successful 
in  this  campaign  in  bringing  in  the  inquiries  of  interested  prospects,  it  is  all 
that  should  be  expected  of  it.  After  an  inquiry  has  been  received  it  is  a 
question  of  salesmanship  to  close  the  deal. 

Him.  Future  Campaigns.  The  names  of  inquiries  which  are  used  in  this 
campaign  should  be  used  again  next  year  in  another  house-wiring  campaign. 
Every  home  remains  a  prospect  for  wiring  until  a  contract  covering  it  is 
signed.  The  campaign  which  is  waged  next  year  will  have  the  advantage 
of  having  been  preceded  by  the  form  letters  and  publicity  of  the  present 
campaign. 

11  In.  Houses  Wired,  not  Using  Current.  An  investigation  in  Dawson 
reveals  that  there  are  now  about  350  houses  which  are  wired  for  electricity, 
but  for  which  current  is  not  purchased  of  the  Dawson  Light  &  Power  Com- 
pany. There  are  probably  two  reasons  why  these  people  are  not  using  elec- 
tricity: first  they  believe  the  cost  of  current  is  prohibitive  or  secondly,  their 
houses  are  not  equipped  with  electric  fixtures.  The  answer  to  the  first  objec- 
tion is  the  low  wattage  Mazda  lamp — which  practically  lowers  the  rates  for 
electricity.  The  answer  to  the  second  objection,  is  the  offering  of  the  sets  of 
electric  fixtures  on  a  time-payment  basis. 

This  class  of  prospects  can  be  very  easily  secured  as  customers.  They 
have  already  made  the  large  initial  investment  of  wiring;  hence  it  is  only  nec- 
essary to  show  them  the  economy  of  electric  service  with  Mazda  lamps,  or 
the  low  price  of  and  the  easy  payments  by  which  they  can  purchase  electric 
fixtures. 

FORM  OF  CAMPAIGN 

112a.  It  is  recommended  that  the  basis  of  this  campaign  be  a  series  of 
direct-by-mail  letters  to  people  living  in  their  own  homes  in  Dawson.  Sup- 
plementing these  there  should  be  advertising  in  the  newspapers,  street  cars, 
moving  picture  theatres  and  in  the  company's  show  window.  Recommenda- 
tions relative  to  these  advertising  media  are  given  later  in  this  report. 

As  previously  stated  it  is  believed  advisable,  for  the  present,  to  confine  your 
efforts  to  securing  orders  for  wiring  houses  which  are  occupied  by  their  owners 
and  located  on  your  existing  distributing  lines.  However  general  publicity 
in  the  newspapers,  moving  picture  theatres,  etc.,  will  cover  the  entire  field  of 
landlords,  tenants  and  home  owners. 


94  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Date.  . . 


Prospect's  Name  and  Address. 

Dear  Sir:-  (or  Madam) 

Here  is  the  greatest  opportunity  ever  offered  to  the  people  of  Dawson 
for  equipping  their  homes  with  electric  service. 

Starting  this  week  the  cost  of  wiring  has  been  greatly  reduced.  We 
have  completed  arrangements  with  local  contractors  whereby  the  work  will 
be  done  at  a  very  low  figure. 

More  than  this  we  will  allow  you  twelve  months  to  pay  for  the  installa- 
tion— in  small  monthly  payments. 

We  will  protect  your  interests  in  every  manner  possible  by  furnishing 
specifications  under  which  the  work  will  be  done — specifications  which 
assure  you  that  your  job  will  be  executed  in  a  thorough  and  workmanlike 
manner. 

We  will  have  the  work  installed  complete,  including  wiring,  fixtures 
and  lamps,  ready  to  turn  on  the  current. 

Think  what  this  means  in  your  home.  You  will  have  the  cleanest, 
safest  and  best  light  known.  There  will  be  no  damage  to  your  woodwork 
or  wall  paper.  And  assuming  that  the  complete  installation  costs 
you  sixty  dollars,  you  can  pay  for  this  in  payments  of  only  five  dollars 
per  month. 

Won't  you  let  us  send  our  representative  to  give  you  an  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  wiring  your  house?  You  are  in  no  way  obligating  yourself  by 
this  request.  We  merely  desire  to  acquaint  you  with  the  reasonable 
price  of  installing  electric  service  in  your  home  and  of  our  easy  terms  of 
payment. 

Please  sign  and  mail  us  the  enclosed  card  today. 
Yours  very  truly, 
DAWSON  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY 

By 

New  Business  Manager. 


FIG.  23 C. — Circular  letter  No.    i,   to  be  multigraphed  on 
central  station  letterheads. 


The  Dawson  Light  &•  Power  Co., 
Dawson,  Ohio. 

Gentlemen:— 

Please  have  your  representative  call  and  explain  in  detail  your  propo- 
sition for  wiring  our  home  for  electric  service.  It  is  thoroughly  under- 
stood that  we  do  not  obligate  ourselves  in  any  manner  by  this  request. 

Sign 

Address 

Time  to  call.  .  . 


FIG.  2$D. — Postal  card  to  be  submitted  with  letters  Nos.  i, 
2,  3  and  4.  (Reverse  side  of  this  card  to  be  printed  with  the  name 
and  address  of  the  Dawson  Light  &  Power  Company.) 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  95 

112b.  Prospect  List.  It  is  recommended  that  the  prospect  list  to  be  used 
in  this  campaign  consist  of  2000  names  of  people  in  Dawson,  living  in  their 
own  homes  and  located  on  the  existing  distributing  lines  of  the  Dawson  Light 
&  Power  Company.  Home  owners  constitute  the  best  class  of  prospects  for 
house- wiring  and  the  fact  of  their  being  on  the  existing  distributing  lines  elimi- 
nates the  expense  of  making  line  extensions  to  serve  them. 


Date 

Prospect's    Name    and    Address. 

Dear  Sir:-  (or  Madam) 

Electricity  will  give  you  the  best  light  known — it  is  the  clean  light — 
the  pure  air  light — the  healthful  light — the  convenient  light  and  the 
safe  light. 

Its  advantages  are  so  many  that  no  architect  would  think  of  designing 
a  modern  home  without  this  necessity. 

Your  home  is  not  wired  and  probably  you  have  thought  that  the  cost, 
the  litter  and  dirt  incident  to  the  work,  would  not  repay  you  for  the  con- 
venience of  electricity  in  the  home. 

This  is  a  mistaken  idea  which  we  wish  to  correct. 

This  work  is  quickly  and  neatly  done — done  in  two  or  three  days, 
without  injury  to  your  woodwork  or  wall  paper. 

And  the  expense  is  spread  out  over  a  period  of  twelve  monthly  payments 
— probably  amounting  to  only  three  or  four  dollars  a  month. 

We  want  an  opportunity  of  presenting  our  proposition  to  you — it 
won't  cost  you  a  cent  to  hear  what  we  have  to  offer — and  if  you  will  sign 
and  mail  us  the  enclosed  card  today  we  will  have  our  representative  call 
on  you. 

May  we  hear  from   you? 

Yours  very  truly, 
THE  DAWSON  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY. 

By 

New  Business  Manager. 


FIG.  23-E. — Circular  letter  No.    2,  to  be  multigraphed  on 
central  station  letterheads. 

To  obtain  this  list  of  2000  names  it  is  recommended  that  each  of  the  five  sales- 
men of  the  new  business  department  be  required  to  turn  in  daily  on  cards  pro- 
vided for  this  purpose  the  names  of  ten  prospective  customers.  This  will 
require  only  an  hour  each  day  for  each  salesman  and  is  not  likely  to  conflict 
with  his  regular  work.  On  this  basis  it  will  require  about  a  month  and  a  half 
to  obtain  the  prospect  list. 

Another  plan,  which  might  be  used  successfully  in  connection  with  the 
preparation  of  this  prospect  list  is  to  hire  school  boys  to  furnish  names  for  the 


96  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

list,  paying  them  on  the  basis  of  the  number  of  names  they  turn  in.  If  this  is 
done,  care  must  be  exercised  to  be  certain  that  the  names  are  those  of  people 
who  own  their  homes  and  that  they  are  located  on  the  existing  distributing 
lines  of  the  Dawson  Light  &  Power  Company. 

112c.  Campaign.    The  direct-by-mail  advertising  campaign  is  to  com- 
prise the  following: 


Date 

Prospect's  Name  and  Address. 

Dear  Sir:   (or  Madam) 

Many  of  your  neighbors  have  taken  advantage  of  our  offer  to  wire 
their  homes  for  electric  service — the  modern  light  and  the  best  light  known. 

Yet  we  have  not  been  permitted  to  have  our  representative  explain 
our  proposition  to  you. 

We  feel  confident  that  you  want  electric  light  in  your  home.  And  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  the  expense  is  really  an  investment,  as  in  case  of  sale 
you  can  obtain  more  money  for  a  wired  house  than  for  an  unwired  house, 
we  feel  that  you  should  grant  us  this  opportunity.  The  buyers  of  today 
are  demanding  that  houses  be  wired  for  electric  service. 

We  are  offering  to  carry  this  investment  for  you — to  string  it  out 
over  a  period  of  twelve  months.  In  addition  we  are  safe-guarding 
your  interest  by  having  the  work  done  under  strict  specifications — some- 
thing that  has  never  been  done  in  Dawson  before. 

In  the  home  that  is  electrically  equipped  all  of  the  electrical  appli- 
ances may  be  used — the  electric  iron,  vacuum  cleaner,  toasters,  coffee 
percolators,  etc. 

The  card,  which  we  are  enclosing,  has  the  postage  prepaid,  and  we 
hope  that  you  will  sign  and  mail  it  to  us  today  without  fail.  You 
do  not  obligate  yourself  in  any  way  by  this  request.  It  only  means  that 
our  representative  will  call,  and  in  a  few  minutes  will  give  you  an  esti- 
mate of  the  cost  of  equipping  your  home  for  electric  service. 

Mail  us  the  card  today. 

Yours  very  truly, 
THE  DAWSON  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY 

By 

New  Business  Manager. 


FIG.  2$F. — Circular  letter  No.   3,   to   be   multigraphcd  on 
central  station  letterheads. 

ist.  Form  letter,  No.  i  (Fig.  236")  booklet  "  Wiring  a  Home "  and  return 
post  card  (Fig.  23!)). 

2nd.  Form  letter  No.  2  (Fig.  23^),  pamphlet  "Make  the  Old  Home  Bright" 
and  return  post  card  (Fig.  2$D). 

3rd.  Form  letter  No.  3  (Fig.  2$F)  and  stamped  return  post  card  to  be 
followed  by: 

4th.  Call  of  central  station  salesmen  on  all  inquirers. 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  97 

5th.  Call  of  salesmen  on  all  names  included  in  the  prospect  list,  regardless 
of  whether  or  not  inquiry  has  been  received. 

6th.  Mailing  of  letter,  No.  4  (Fig.  236)  if  so  desired. 


Date 

Prospect's  Name  and  Address. 

Dear  Sir:  (or  Madam) 

On  (date )  our  exceptional  offer  to  wire  your  home  at  low 

cost  and  allow  you  twelve  months  to  pay  for  the  work  will  close. 

After  this  date  there  will  be  absolutely  no  opportunity  for  you  to  take 
advantage  of  this  liberal  offer  fo  install  electric  service. 

Briefly,  here  is  our  proposition: 

The  work  will  be  done  at  low  cost — it  will  be  done  in  two  or  three  days 
after  the  signing  of  the  contract — there  will  be  no  litter  or  annoyance  to 
you — and  when  completed  you  have  actually  the  best  light  known  and 
can  use  any  of  the  electrical  appliances,  such  as  a  flat-iron,  a  washing 
machine  or  a  vacuum  cleaner. 

More  than  this,  we  will  string  the  payments  out  over  a  period  of  twelve 
months — small  monthly  payments  of  three  or  four  dollars  a  month, 
depending  upon  the  amount  of  your  contract.  We  pay  cash  to  the  con- 
tractor doing  the  work  and  then  allow  you  twelve  months  to  return  the 
money  to  us. 

It  is  an  exceptional  opportunity.  You  know  the  advantages  of  elec- 
tricity— its  convenience,  safety  and  cleanliness.  And  you  know  that 
it  increases  the  value  of  your  house  in  case  of  sale. 

Over  Dawson  families  have  taken  advantage  of  this  offer 

and  you  are  not  as  yet,  among  this  number.  Some  of  these  people  are 
probably  neighbors  of  yours. 

Our  offer  absolutely  closes  (date ). 

It  will  not  obligate  you  in  any  manner  to  find  out  how  reasonable  is 
the  cost  of  wiring  your  home,  and  if  you  will  sign  and  return  the  enclosed 
card  we  will  be  glad  to  have  our  representative  call  upon  you.  There  is 
no  obligation  on  your  part,  but  you  had  better  mail  the  card  today  in 
order  to  take  advantage  of  our  offer. 

May  we  give  you  an  estimate  this  week? 

Yours  very  truly, 
THE  DAWSON  LIGHT  AND  POWER  COMPANY 


By 

New  Business  Manager. 
(Enclose  post  card.) 


FIG.  236. — Circular  letter  No.  4,  to  be  multigraphed  on 
central  station  letterheads. 

(The  above  letter  may  be  sent  out  to  the  prospects,  if  so  desired, 
after  all  inquiries  have  been  taken  care  of.  This  letter  tells  the  pros- 
pect that  the  liberal  offer  will  close  on  a  certain  date,  and  that  if  he 
wishes  to  take  advantage  of  your  proposition  he  must  do  so  at  once. 
This  letter  is  designed  to  bring  in  all  inquiry  cards  of  people  who  are 
interested  and  who  have  previously  not  replied  to  your  letters.) 

112d.  Dates  of  Mailing.    It  is  recommended  that  the  campaign  be  inaugu- 
rated early  in  the  Fall,  preferably  the  first  or  middle  of  October,  and  that  the 
letters  follow  one  another  at  intervals  of  a  week  or  ten  days.     The  letters 
should  be  mailed  the  first  of  the  week,  preferably  on  Tuesday  or  Wednesday. 
7 


98  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

112e.  Form  of  Letters.  It  is  recommended  that  the  letters  be  multi- 
graphed  on  the  stationery  of  the  Dawson  Light  &  Power  Company.  They 
should  have  the  name  and  address  of  the  prospect  inserted  by  typewriter. 
The  best  results  will  probably  be  obtained,  providing  there  are  no  multi- 
graphing  facilities  in  the  office  of  the  Dawson  Company,  if  the  entire  job  is 
delegated  to  a  multigraphing  firm  in  Dawson,  where  the  work  will  be  done 
under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  Dawson  office.  If  this  procedure  is  fol- 
lowed it  will  be  only  necessary  to  supply  this  firm  with  the  stationery,  the 
prospect  list,  the  text  for  the  letters  and  the  postage.  They  will  complete 
the  job. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  letters  used  in  this  campaign  be  signed  by 
some  official  of  the  Dawson  central  station,  preferably  Mr.  Hearst,  the  New 
Business  Manager.  This  signature  can  be  reproduced  by  the  multigraph. 
A  plate  can  be  made  for  this  purpose.  This  will  render  it  unnecessary  to 
sign  the  letters  by  hand  in  ink. 

Great  care  should  be  taken  in  the  preparation  of  these  letters  to  make  cer- 
tain that  the  name  and  address  of  each  prospect  is  properly  filled  in,  so  that 
the  letters  will  have  the  "personal"  appearance,  so  desirable  in  direct-by-mail 
advertising.  Wherever  possible  the  letters  should  be  addressed  to  the  man  of 
the  house,  rather  than  to  the  housewife. 

112f.  Subject  Matter  of  Letters.  The  letters  (Figs.  2$C  to  236)  used  in 
this  campaign  should  discuss  principally  the  time-payment  plan  and  the  low 
price  of  wiring,  supplemented  by  an  outline  of  the  general  advantages  of  elec- 
tric service  in  the  home. 

112g.  Post  Cards.  The  return  post  cards  (Fig.  2$D)  enclosed  with  letters 
Nos.  i,  2  and  3  should  be  printed  on  stock  of  the  same  size  as  regular  United 
States  cards.  The  cards  enclosed  with  letters  Nos.  i  and  2  should  be  merely 
form  cards  with  imprint  "Place  one  cent  stamp  here."  The  card  to  be  en- 
closed with  letters  Nos.  3  and  4  should  have  a  one  cent  stamp  affixed.  It  is 
deemed  advisable  to  affix  a  one  cent  stamp  to  this  last  card,  rather  than  use  a 
standard  United  States  post  card,  inasmuch  as  the  stamp  calls  particular 
attention  to  the  fact  that  the  postage  has  been  paid.  As  this  is  purely  an 
inquiry-producing  campaign  everything  should  be  so  arranged  that  the  pros- 
pect can  with  a  minimum  of  effort  send  his  inquiry  to  the  station. 

112h.  Advertising  Enclosures  with  Letters.  The  booklet  "Wiring  a 
Home"  and  the  pamphlet  "Make  the  Old  Home  Bright,"  will  be  supplied 
gratis  to  the  Dawson  station,  imprinted  with  its  name,  in  such  quantities  as  are 
desired.  As  soon  as  this  campaign  has  been  authorized,  The  National  Lamp 
Works  should  be  advised  as  to  the  exact  imprint  desired  on  this  advertising 
matter  as  well  as  to  the  quantity  that  will  be  needed.  At  least  200  extra  cop- 
ies of  each  folder  or  pamphlet  should  be  requested;  these  to  be  used  for  coun- 
ter distribution  from  the  display  room.  (This  service  is  for  National  custo- 
mers only.) 

112i.  Personal  Follow-up  by  Salesmen.  It  is  impossible  to  place  too 
much  stress  upon  the  importance  of  the  "follow-up"  by  the  station  salesmen 
after  the  inquiries  have  been  received.  Unless  the  inquiries  are  given  imme- 


SPECIFICATION  FOR  A  CAMPAIGN  99 

diate  attention  the  results  of  the  campaign  will  be  materially  affected.  The 
advertising  material  is  merely  for  the  purpose  of  creating  an  interest  on  the 
part  of  the  prospect.  If  properly  followed  up  by  the  salesmen,  this  interest 
may  be  developed  into  an  actual  order  for  house-wiring. 

As  previously  suggested  in  addition  to  the  following  up  of  each  inquiry,  it  is 
recommended  that  every  prospect  included  in  the  mailing  list  receive  a  call 
by  a  central  station  salesman.  The  salesman  will  find  that  the  prospective 
customers  can  be  readily  approached  because  of  the  fact  that  his  call  has  been 
preceded  by  a  series  of  interest-arousing  letters  and  that  the  prospect  will  be 
more  or  less  familiar  with  the  salesman's  proposition.  In  following  up  the 
inquiries,  no  delay  should  be  permitted  between  the  time  of  the  receipt  of  the 
inquiry  and  the  time  that  the  salesman  calls.  This  call  should  be  made  while 
interest  is  aroused  and  should  not  be  postponed  for  two  or  three  weeks. 

112j.  Newspaper  Advertising.  It  is  recommended  that  one  advertise- 
ment appear  each  day  during  the  operation  of  this  campaign  in  all  newspapers 
having  a  circulation  in  Dawson.  Mr.  Hearst's  suggestion  relative  to  publish- 
ing in  the  daily  papers  from  day  to  day  lists  of  people  who  have  had  their 
homes  wired  is  thoroughly  endorsed.  Photographs  might  be  taken,  of  some  of 
these  wired  houses,  and  reproduced  in  the  newspapers.  This  is  a  splendid 
method  of  producing  local  interest. 

It  is  understood  that  considerable  advertising  relative  to  the  advantages  of 
electric  service  in  the  home  has  appeared  in  the  Dawson  local  papers  prior  to 
the  inauguration  of  this  campaign.  It  is  therefore  assumed  that  the  people 
are  entirely  familiar  with  the  convenience,  cleanliness  and  safety  of  electricity 
for  illuminating  purposes.  Hence  it  is  suggested  that  the  copy  for  this 
finished-building  wiring  campaign  treat  principally  of  the  low  cost  of  wiring, 
the  specifications  and  the  time-payment  proposition.  These  characteristics 
will  prove  a  new  and  interesting  feature. 

112k.  Moving  Picture  Theatre  Advertising.  It  is  recommended  that 
slides  be  placed  with  some  of  the  prominent  moving  picture  theatres  of 
Dawson.  This  is  a  very  valuable  supplementary  method  of  advertising  and  it 
is  thoroughly  endorsed  for  use  in  this  campaign.  As  in  the  newspaper  adver- 
tising, slides  may  be  used  showing  houses  in  Dawson  that  have  recently  been 
wired  for  electric  service.  Another  thing  that  should  be  emphasized  in  lan- 
tern-slide advertising  is  that  people  should  send  requests  for  estimates  of  the 
cost  of  wiring  their  homes.  It  should  be  brought  out  that  they  do  not  obli- 
gate themselves  in  any  way  by  making  such  a  request. 

1121.  Street  Car  Advertising.  During  the  operation  of  this  campaign  it  is 
recommended  that  street  car  cards  be  placed  in  all  street  cars  in  Dawson. 
It  would  probably  tend  to  create  interest  if  a  new  card  appeared  every  few 
days  giving  the  number  of  houses  which  had  been  wired  to  date  under  the  new 
plan.  The  cost  of  printing  these  cards  will  be  small.  Black  lettering  on  white 
stock  will  suffice.  The  reading  matter  on  car  cards  should  be  very  brief  and 
to  the  point. 

112m.  Window  Display  Advertising.  The  excellent  show  window  of  the 
Dawson  Station's  office  should  be  used  to  the  best  advantage  during  the  cam- 


100  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

paign.  As  a  suggestion  for  a  window  display:  It  might  be  of  interest  to 
introduce  a  guessing  contest,  the  prize  to  be  a  vacuum  cleaner,  a  washing 
machine  or  any  of  the  other  electrical  appliances.  The  prize  winner  would  be 
the  person  guessing  nearest  to  the  number  of  houses  that  will  be  wired  during 
a  certain  period,  the  contest  to  be  open  until  two  weeks  prior  to  the  closing  of 
the  campaign.  From  day  to  day  the  number  of  houses  wired  could  be  indi- 
cated by  a  chart  in  the  window  representing  a  thermometer  or  a  clock.  Each 
day  the  chart  should  be  set  to  indicate  the  number  of  contracts  closed  during 
the  preceding  day. 

The  contest  should  be  confined  to  electric  service  customers.  It  should  be 
so  arranged  that  it  will  be  necessary  for  each  contestant  to  traverse  the  entire 
length  of  the  display  room  to  register  his  vote.  This  will  necessitate  his  pass- 
ing the  many  electrical  consuming  devices  on  display  and  will  tend  to  famil- 
iarize him  with  the  advantages  of  electric  service.  In  a  town  the  size  of 
Dawson  such  a  contest,  if  properly  conducted,  creates  much  local  interest. 

Placards  outlining  the  low  cost  of  wiring  and  the  monthly  payment  plan 
should  also  be  prominently  displayed  in  the  window.  Other  display  cards 
should  urge  people  to  come  inside  and  learn  the  details  of  the  proposition. 


CHAPTER  VII 

METHODS  OF  WIRING 
GENERAL 

113.  Wiring  for  finished  buildings  can  be  classified  into  seven 
different  methods  as  follows   (the  cost  per  outlet  for  each  of 
these  classes  and  the  relative  cost  of  each  are  given  in  the  "Cost" 
chapter  of  this  book) :     (i)  Rigid  Conduit,  (2)  Flexible  Steel  Con- 
duit, (3)  Flexible  Steel  Armored  Conductor  or  Armored  Cable, 
(4)  Metal    Molding,    (5)    Concealed  Knob  and    Tube    Work, 
(6)  Wooden  Molding,  and  (7)  Open  Wiring  on  Knobs  and  Cleats. 
Frequently  two  or  more  of  these  methods  must  be  used  in  the 
same  installation.     Each  of    these   methods,    its    adaptability 
and  features  involved  in  its  installation,  is  discussed  in  paragraphs 
that  follow. 

113A.  For  more  extended  information  regarding  the  different 
methods  of  wiring,  details  of  the  fittings  used  and  pointers  re- 
garding manipulation,  see  the  American  Electricians'  Handbook. 
It  is  not  feasible  to  repeat  here  such  data  as  affect  the  wiring  of 
buildings  under  construction  and  that  also  affect  the  wiring  of 
finished  buildings.  The  wiring  section  of  the  handbook  referred 
to  above  deals  almost  exclusively  with  the  wiring  of  buildings 
under  construction. 

114.  A  cheap  safe  method  of    exposed  wiring  for  finished 
buildings  is  yet  to  be  developed  in  this  country.    All  methods 
whereby  the  conductors  are  concealed  are  relatively  expensive. 
There  are  a  great  many  buildings — the  smaller  residences  and 
stores — that  offer,  in  the  aggregate,  a  splendid  load  for  the  central 
stations.     But  there  is  no  cheap  exposed  method  approved  by  the 
Fire  Underwriters  in  this  country,  that  is  safe  and  that  also 
presents  a  good  appearance,  whereby  these  buildings  can  be 
wired.     Exposed  wiring  on  knobs  and  cleats  is  cheap  and  safe 
but  is  out  of  the  running  because  of  its  unsightliness.     Exposed 

101 


102  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

conduit  wiring  is  quite  expensive  and  would  not  look  well  in  a 
residence.  Wooden  molding  wiring  is  cheap  and  can  be  made  to 
look  quite  well  for  small  residence  work  but  its  application  is 
restricted  and  its  use  is  not  permitted  in  certain  municipalities; 
furthermore,  it  cannot  be  classed  with  the  safest  methods. 
Metal  molding  can  be  made  to  present  a  good  appearance  even  in 
residences,  but  it  is  too  expensive.  In  Europe  (see  172  and 
paragraphs  that  follow),  several  cheap,  slightly  and  apparently 
safe  methods  of  exposed  wiring  for  finished  buildings  have  been 
developed  and  are  widely  applied.  Many  European  central 
stations,  through  these  methods  of  wiring,  appear  to  be  getting 
about  all  the  load  obtainable.  Doubtless,  similar  methods  will, 
ultimately,  be  developed  in  North  America. 

RIGID  CONDUIT   WIRING 

115.  Rigid  Conduit  Installations  in  Finished  Buildings.    The 

installation  of  conductors  in  rigid  conduit  provides  decidedly 
the  most  expensive  but  the  most  satisfactory  and  safest  method 
yet  developed.  A  good  rigid  conduit  installation  is  impervious 
to  water.  It  is  very  difficult,  however,  to  wire  an  old  building 
throughout  with  rigid  conduit  without  a  great  deal  of  cutting 
and  disfigurement  of  walls  and  ceilings.  Hence  it  is  seldom  that 
a  finished  building  is  wired  by  this  method  unless  it  is  undergoing 
reconstruction  and  plasterers  and  other  building-trades  mechanics 
are  available  to  assist  the  wireman  to  cut  his  race  ways  and  outlets 
and  to  repair  the  openings  that  it  is  usually  necessary  for  him  to 
make.  If  flexible  steel  conduit  is  used  in  certain  locations  in 
combination  with  rigid  conduit  an  installation  almost  as  good 
results.  Furthermore  the  cost  is  decreased,  and  the  building  is 
not  noticeably  disfigured.  For  this  reason,  where  metallic  conduit 
is  mandatory  for  concealed  work,  as  it  is  in  some  municipalities, 
Chicago  and  Denver  for  instance,  the  finished-building  wiring 
installations  usually  combine  rigid  and  flexible  steel  conduit. 

116.  Properties  and  dimensions  of  rigid  conduit  and  conduit 
fittings  and  data  covering  its  installation  in  buildings  under 
construction   are   given   in   full   in   the   American   Electricians' 
Handbook.    The  tables  and  other  information  involved  is  too 
extended  for  inclusion  here. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


103 


117.  In  conduit  installations  conductors  are  usually  "looped" 
from  outlet  to  outlet  and  all  outlet  boxes  must  be  available 

for  inspection  after  the  work  has  been  completed.  Splices  can 
be  made  only  in  these  available  outlet  boxes.  The  conductors 
should  not  be  pulled  in  until  the  conduit  installation  is  complete. 

118.  Where  the  conduit  run  is  accessible,  approved  fittings 
can  be  used  and  it  is  not  necessary  to  "loop"  the  conductors. 
Fig.  24  shows  an  example  of  such  an  installation.    The  attic  is 
accessible,  hence  each  of  the  fittings  in  it  constitutes  an  accessible 


p 

S 

Ace 
-  Conduit 

e  S  s  i   b 
Fittings, 

' 

1 

<•  Rafters--* 
e  At 

& 

t  i   c 

1 

E 

Joists--^ 

5 

B 

S 

,..............! 

n  1 

™JoocUJI 

Outside  n  f 
Wx/t    \ 

i 

A1-*    . 

|  ;         Surface  Outlet  Box  ' 

\\ 

Steel  Outlet  Box-  •'                  1 

'•:  *Lath  and 
'-.          Plaster 

L 
R 

Picture  Molding 
o     o     m 

\ 

/ 

[                                        Picture         [_ 

*=~  Conduit 

C-* 

FIG.  24. — Installation  of  concealed  conduit  where  the  conduit  run  is  available. 

outlet  box  in  which  wires  can  be  spliced  and  tapped.  The  vertical 
conduit  run  shown  is  carried  up  within  the  space  in  an  outside 
wall  and  the  horizontal  run  is  clamped  to  the  joists  with  pipe 
straps.  Surface  outlet  boxes  like  that  of  A  can  be  used  where  it  is 
undesirable  to  cut  a  large  hole  in  the  ceiling,  but  the  usual  practice 
is  to  use  pressed  steel  boxes  with  their  lower  edges  set  flush  with 
the  surface  of  the  ceiling  as  at  B. 

119.  Slotting  Joists  for  Conduit.    Figs.  25  and  26  show  how 
the  floor  joists  of  a  frame  building  should  be  slotted  for  the  re- 


104 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


ception  of  a  conduit  run.  After  the  conduit  is  in  place  and  held 
there  with  a  few  nails  driven  into  the  joists  and  bent  over  the 
conduit,  the  floor  boards  may  be  replaced.  The  slots  should 
be  as  narrow  and  shallow  as  will  comfortably  admit  the  con- 
duit. Those  in  the  illustration  are  exaggerated  in  size  so  that 
they  will  show  plainly.  Each  slot  is  fashiond  by  making  two 
vertical  saw-cuts  in  the  joist  and  then  gouging  out  the  little 
block  between  the  cuts  with  a 
wood  chisel. 

120.  The  general  procedure 
in  installing  rigid  conduit  in 
finished  buildings  is  about  as 
follows :  (i)  Determine  the  lo- 

Coupling 


FIG.  25. — Method  of  slotting    joist 
for  the  reception  of  conduit. 


FIG.  26. — Second-story  floor  boards 
removed  and  conduit  in  place  in  slots 
in  joists. 


cation  of  the  (a)  entrance,  (ft)  meter  and  (c)  the  panel  box  or  dis- 
tribution center;  (2)  install  the  feeder  conduit  to  the  panel  box; 
(3)  install  the  vertical  runs  within  walls  and  partitions  to  bracket 
and  switch  outlets  and  the  like;  (4)  connect  the  vertical  runs  with 
horizontal  runs  and  (5)  pull  in  the  wire  and  connect  it. 

121.  The  conduit  for  the  feeder  between  the  point  of  entrance 
and  the  panel  box  is  usually  installed  on  the  cellar  ceiling  and  is 
held  thereto  with  pipe  straps.  The  entrance  switch  and  meter  are 
most  frequently  located  in  the  cellar.  The  panel  box  is  usually 
in  the  first  or  second  floor  hall.  A  hole  is  bored  from  the  cellar 
up  through  the  floor  plate  or  sill  of  the  partition  in  which  the 
panel  box  is  to  be  located.  An  elbow  is  bent  in  one  end  of  a 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


105 


flecrt  to  Support- 


Conduits 


length  of  conduit,  of  the  diameter  to  be  used  for  the  feeder,  and 
the  conduit  is  pushed  through  the  hole  until  one  leg  of  the  elbow 
rests  against  the  cellar  ceiling.  It  is  cleated  to  the  ceiling  and 
the  run  is  continued  to  the  entrance.  The  panel  box  is  later  set 
down  over  the  end  of  the  piece  that  was  pushed  through  the 
floor. 

122.  Installing  the  Panel  Box  in  Rigid  Conduit  Work.  A  box, 
without  its  trim,  in  position  with  the  conduit  lines  run  into  it,  is 
shown  in  Fig.  27.  The  lath  and  plaster  must  be  cut  away  as 
illustrated  to  provide  for  the  ad- 
mission of  the  box.  At  the  sides 
the  lath  and  plaster  should  be  cut 
off  flush  with  the  faces  of  the 
studs.  Vertically,  the  hole  must 
be  longer  than  the  box  to  give  a 
space  in  which  the  lock-nuts  can 
be  run  on  the  conduit.  The  trim 
of  the  panel  box  (Fig.  84)  should 
be  made  wide  enough  to  cover  the 
openings  so  left. 

The  box  is  made,  as  described  in 
193,  of  such  a  width  that  it  will 
just  fit  between  the  studs.  Its 

overall    depth    should   be   about 

i    ,      ,1       j      .1       ,.   ,1  j       FIG.  27. — Panel  box  in  a  rigid  con- 

equal  to  the  depth  of  the  studs  duit  inflation. 

plus  the  thickness  of  the  plaster  so 

that  the  front  edges  of  the  box  will  lie  flush  with  the  surface  of  the 
plaster  when  the  box  is  fastened  in  place.  The  plaster  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  partition  may  extend  through  its  lath  a  half 
inch  or  so.  This  should  be  considered  in  making  the  box. 

Before  the  box  is  placed,  the  holes  for  the  conduits  that  to  are 
enter  it  should  be  bored  through  the  ceiling  and  floor  plates  and 
through  the  bridges  if  there  are  any.  The  holes  in  the  box  for  the 
conduits  should  be  so  spaced  that  the  conduits  will  enter  readily. 
The  box  being  in  position,  the  conduits  are  let  down  from  above 
and  pushed  up  from  below  and  a  lock-nut  is  run  on  each.  Then 
they  are  pushed  through  the  holes  in  the  box  and  a  bushing  is 
turned  on  each  one  inside  of  the  box.  Frequently  it  is  a  good  plan 


106 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Joist- 


fCleat  to  Support  Conduit 


to  place  the  conduits  that  are  to  enter  the  box  from  the  bottom 
before  the  box  itself  is  set  in  position.  Then  the  box,  the  holes 
having  been  bored  in  its  bottom,  is  set  down  over  the  conduits. 
Then  the  conduits  that  are  to  enter  the  box  from  above  are  placed. 
123.  Installation  of  a  Rigid  Conduit  Switch  Box.  Fig.  28  shows 
such  a  box  which  serves,  through  B,  an  electrolier  hung  from  the 
ceiling.  It  feeds,  through  A,  from  a  conduit  run  located  within 
the  floor.  This  run  comes  from  a  panel  box  like  that  of  Fig.  27. 

'To  place  a  rigid  conduit  switch 
box  it  is  usually  necessary  to 
cut  a  hole,  extending  from  stud 
to  stud,  in  the  lath  and  plaster 
of  the  partition;  to  remove  the 
baseboard  and  to  cut  a  pocket 
in  the  floor  at  the  foot  of  the 
partition.  If  no  conduit  enters 
the  switch  box  from  below,  the 
removal  of  the  baseboard  and 
the  cutting  of  the  pocket  are 
unnecessary.  It  is  almost  im- 
possible to  fasten  a  switch  box 


Steef 


Lock 
Nut, 

jB 

! 

u 

\ 

I 

-4 

a 

L  . 

x3 

A 

j 

Holt  Cut 
in  Plaster 


Board  to 
Support  ffa* 


Lath 

and 

P/aster 


^  Pocket  k 
V/o/ff  Cut  in  P/aster  and 

•Slot  Cut  in  HoorP/ate  here 

FIG.  28. — Rigid  conduit  switchbox  in 
position. 


Screws 
forHoldlng- 
A9»<l« 


FIG.    29. — Steel    outlet    box    for 
switch  or  a  plug  receptacle. 


to  rigid  conduit  with  the  necessary  lock-nuts  and  bushings 
without  cutting  a  reasonably  large  hole  in  the  partition  surface 
in  which  to  work,  even  if  a  switch  box  of  the  compact  type  of 
Fig.  29  is  employed. 

A  slot  is  cut  in  the  floor  plate — and  in  the  floor  if  it  extends 
under  the  floor  plate — it  being  assumed  that  the  baseboard  has 
been  removed.  A  conduit  elbow  is  placed  in  the  slot  with  one  arm 
"looking"  toward  the  switch  box  and  the  other  extending 
out  parallel  to  the  joists.  Then  a  length  of  conduit,  just  long 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


107 


enough  to  reach  the  switch  box,  is  screwed  to  the  arm  of  the  elbow 
within  the  partition.  The  switch  box  is  clamped  to  it  with 
lock-nut  and  bushing  and  is  then  fastened  with  wood  screws  to  the 
board  that  has  been  nailed  in  between  the  studs  for  its  reception. 
The  board  should  be  located  far  enough  back  from  the  face  of  the 


A. 
Fixture  Stud. 


Assembled. 
FIG.  30. — Bracket-box  and  fixture  stud. 


partition  that  when  the  box  is  set  its  outer  edge  will  be  flush  with 
the  partition  surface.  The  conduit  run  upward  from  the  switch 
box  can  then  be  continued  by  dropping  a  conduit  length  down  to 
the  box  from  above  and  fastening  it  thereto  with  a  lock-nut 
and  a  bushing. 

Fig.  30  shows  the  type  of  steel  outlet  box  that  is  used;    how- 
ever, a  "switch  outlet"  cover   is 
employed  instead  of    the   round 
cover  shown  which  is  designed  for 
bracket  or  electrolier  outlets. 

124.  Installation  of  a  Bracket 
Outlet    Box.     The    bracket    box 
(Fig.  31)  is  set  in  essentially  the 
same  manner  as  the  switch  box. 
However,  the  opening  in  the  cover 

is  round   instead  of  rectangular.  __\ 

Fig.  30  shows  the  box  assembled 

and    disassembled.     The    fixture 

stud,  held  to  the  back  of  the  box    FIG.  31.— Conduit  run  to  a  bracket 

with  four  No.  10  X  24  machine        outlet  in  a  finished  building. 

screws,  is  for  supporting  the  fixture. 

125.  The  method  of  joining  rigid  vertical  conduits  by  a  hori- 
zontal connection  within  a  floor  is  illustrated  by  Fig.  32.     It  is 
desired  to  connect  B,  which  is  from  a  switch  outlet,  to  A  which  is 


! 

XZE3[ 

i      1 

Board  Naile$\ 
'  5""i-| 

f  ^-Lathartd 
Ceiling 

~\OuttetBox 
1  ' 
^LockNut 

-$Studs          ' 

I 
j 

Plaster 
<  Lath 

\  Board           \  r^k^ 
\  to  Support-    l,£.fip 

*"•"!    if 
[Hole  Cut       \J\\ 

inPlaster-T    \\ 

IT 

^^ 

X           Conduit.--^      \ 

Jo/5^           ^ 

108 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


from  a  bracket  outlet.  Both  terminate  just  below  the  floor. 
Remove  the  floor  boards  and  slot  the  joists  as  shown.  Measure 
the  distance  from  B  to  C  where  the  connecting  conduit  must 
turn  toward  A.  Bend  a  piece  of  conduit  of  the  required  length 
to  an  L  shape  so  that  it  will  just  fit  in  between  conduit  ends  A 
and  B.  At  each  end  of  the  connecting  conduit  cut  a  running 


Lath  and  Plaster 


f,'$tuds-^^           /Pocket                               l 
j-''                    \        :'                ,'Conduif-                \ 

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$8     ^1     Bzniji 

if  PI              il 

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L//VX 

1 

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n  r  •~i~  —  '|'"|  "X   ' 

1     ^  n    ' 

i  — 

i            -i                 . 

J    Q  B    i       -  T 

•777 

'i/fo.n'ninq  Thre 

g 

Floor  -I   ^Boards  \     Removed^ 

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a. 
% 

,        j       I                | 

ii               j  i               I 

l      ii      !  i             i 

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A       j  \RunninQ\  \  Thread  \ 

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l                                 1                          ! 

i  \'Jo/'sfs  I  \Slotted\  i 

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ftJL  u    E[ 

Y,..^  'W 

FIG.  32. — Method  of  installing  rigid  conduit  within  a  floor. 

thread,  Fig.  33.  Hold  the  connecting  conduit  thus  prepared 
with  its  ends  butted  against  conduits  A  and  B  while  the  couplings 
are  screwed  on  the  ends  of  these  two  pieces  of  duct. 

126.  Supporting  Electroliers  Fed  from  an  Attic.  In  halls  or 
high-ceilinged  rooms  where  the  use  of  staging  built  up  from  the 
floor  is  expensive  or  otherwise  undesirable,  fixtures  may  be  sup- 


Lock  Nut— -•i        /Coupling 


I.Rectdy  -for  Connection.  E.  Connected- 

FIG.  33. — Running  thread. 

ported  as  shown  in  Fig.  34.  First  determine  the  location  of  the 
ceiling  outlets  by  careful  measurements  and  cut  a  i-in.  hole 
in  the  ceiling  at  each  such  outlet. 

Directly  over  the  outlet  nail  a  piece  of  2  X  4  timber  be- 
tween the  joists  and  through  it  bore  a  i-in.  hole  in  the  same 
vertical  line  with  the  hole  in  the  ceiling.  Then  fasten  a  4-in. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


109 


outlet  box  on  the  timber  with  wood  screws.  Into  the  outlet 
box  run  the  conduit,  which  can  be  carried  in  a  groove  in  the 
tops  of  the  joists. 

Lock  and  Bushing^         A  "Outlet  Box 


•  *  t\^'.     *'  •    •  VrU   '    '    '   .  '  •'  •  *.'  -'i* !  r.»  •  ;_^_.  . •  -.  jj;  r.  *   .    *t r.*-  *_'•:  ^     '  ~  ,     ,V  .'/,    ' .  '.'       ' 


and  Plaster 
Ceiling 


c-  Fixture  Stem. 


FIG.  34. — Supporting  fixture  from  an  attic. 

A  piece  of  half-inch  conduit  is  then  cut  the  proper  length  to 
reach  from  the  outlet  box  to  the  ceiling.  Both  ends  of  this  pipe 
having  been  threaded,  it  is  screwed  to  the  fixture  by  means  of 
a  i/2-in.  X  3/8-in.  insulating 
joint  used  for  combination  fixtures. 
Then  assemble  the  fixture  com- 
pletely on  the  floor,  running  the 
fixture  wires  up  through  the  in- 
sulating joint  and  the  piece  of 
conduit.  Pull  the  fixture  up.  A 
i/2-in.  lock-nut  and  bushing 
screwed  onto  the  pipe  will  com- 
plete the  job  and  hold  the  fixture 
in  place. 

127.  Installing  Conduit  Lines  in 
Finished-building  Elevator  Shafts. 
In  a  building  having  an  elevator 

shaft  and  no  other  vertical  way    .  FlG-  3 5.-Conduit  lines  installed 

in  an  elevator  shaft  in  a  finished 
in  which  the  conductors  can  be    building. 

carried,  they  can  often  be  installed, 

provided  they  are  in  conduit,  in  the  elevator  shaft  as  shown  in 
Fig.  35.  Conduit  wiring  is  the  only  method  that  is  approved 
by  the  Code  for  elevator  shafts,  A  good  conductor  layout  is 


110 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


or  Metal 
Molding 


shown.  A  panel  box  having  a  branch-circuit  capacity  sufficient 
for  that  floor  is  located  on  each  floor  and  an  individual  main  is 
carried  from  a  distribution  cabinet  in  the  basement  to  each  of  the 

boxes.    A  separate  conduit  line  is  car- 
ried to  the  elevator  motor. 

128.  In  a  building  of  several  stories  a 
conduit  riser  can  often  be  employed  ad- 
vantageously as   suggested  in  Fig.  36. 
The  illustration  shows  the  wiring  of  an 
apartment  building  wherein  the  service 
to  the  apartment  on  each  floor  is  tapped 
from  the  vertical  riser,  which  is  carried 
in  conduit  through  a  tier  of  closets.    The 
closets  being  located  on  each  floor,  one 
directly  over  the  other,  provide  for  the 
concealment  of  the  conduit  run  and  for 
its  relatively  easy  installation.     Some- 
times it  is  preferable  to  install  the  ver- 
tical conduit  riser  on  the  exterior  of  an 
old  apartment  building  rather  than  on 
the  interior.     Usually  a  central  station 
will  place  a  riser  to  feed  several  apart- 
ments at  its  own  expense,  so  the  owner 
merely  has  to  pay  for  the  wiring  in  the 
apartments  themselves. 

129.  Exposed  conduit  for  finished- 
building  wiring  is  sometimes  employed 
as  suggested  in  Fig.  37.     Such  an  in- 
stallation is  relatively  expensive  but  is 
sometimes   necessary  where   concealed 
work   is    not   feasible,  where   molding 
work  will  not  be  accepted  and  where 
open  wiring  on  knobs  and  cleats  cannot 
be  put  in,  either  because  of  its  unsight- 

liness  or  because  it  may  be  interfered  with. 

130.  Rigid  Conduit  Installed  on  Building  Exteriors.  This 
method  (Fig.  38)  of  wiring  is  sometimes  utilized  where  it  is 
desirable  to  make  a  conduit  installation  at  minimum  cost  or  where 


FIG.  36. — Vertical  conduit 
run  to  serve  different  floors 
or  different  apartments. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


111 


because  of  double  floors  or  obstructions  within  walls  or  partitions 
it  is  impossible  to  route  the  conductors  in  any  other  manner. 


FIG.  37. — An  exposed  conduit  installation. 

Probably  piping  installations,  made  in  finished  buildings  for  il- 
luminating gas,  suggested  this 
device  for  handling  conductors 
because  one  notices,  particu- 
larly in  the  older  towns  of  the 
middle  west,  many  old  build- 
ings served  with  gas  with  the 
principal  runs  of  piping  secured 
to  the  outside  of  the  house  with 
pipe  straps.  Where  zinc-coated 
conduit  that  will  "take"  paint 
effectively  is  used,  and  where 
the  exposed  exterior  conduit 
runs  are  carefully  concealed 
in  corners  and  behind  down- 
spouts, the  conduit,  when  paint- 
ed the  same  color  as  the  surface 
that  supports  it,  will  be  incon- 

spicuous.     The  method  can  be    FlG-    38.—Supportmg    conduit    on 

„   •    .  building  exterior, 

used  very  effectively  in  many 

cases  where  the  cost  of  wiring  by  any  other  would  be  prohibitive. 
See  299  for  the  description  of  a  building  wired  by  this  method. 


112 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


131.  Ovalduct  (Fig.  39),  made  by  the  National  Metal  Mold- 
ing Company  of  Pittsburgh,  is  seamless  drawn-steel  tube,  sher- 
ardized  inside  and  out  and  then  enameled  on  the  interior.  It  can 
be  readily  bent  flat  side  or  end  wise  to  conform  to  the  surface  on 
which  it  is  to  be  mounted.  The  dimensions  are  given  in  the 


Knockouts  for 
Ovalduct 


Enameled 
Inside 


Bushing- 
Knockouts  for  Conduit 

Outlet 


Adapter. 


Connector. 


Section  of  Ovalduct.  Ovalduct  Fittings, 

FIG.  39. — Ovalduct  and  fittings. 

figure.  It  is  used  principally  in  making  additions  to  existing 
conduit  wiring  in  fireproof  buildings.  Where  extensions  are  made 
with  conduit  in  these  buildings,  it  is  frequently  necessary  to 
channel  deep  race  ways  for  the  reception  of  the  conduit.  Floor 
arches  may  be  destroyed  and  their  strength  seriously  impaired. 
With  the  ovalduct  extensive  channeling  is  unnecessary.  It 

can  be  laid  in  a  shallow  groove  in 
the  plaster  and  fastened  to  the 
fireproofing  in  the  ceilings  with 
short  tie  wires  which  are  fished 
through  two  small  holes  in  the 
tile.  After  installation  it  is 
plastered  over  so  as  to  be  en- 
tirely concealed.  Ovalduct  will 
accommodate  two  double-braid 
No.  14  wires  or  one  No.  14  duplex 
wire.  Two  No.  14  wires  pull  in 
more  readily  than  does  one  duplex.  Outlet  boxes  and  other  fit- 
tings are  manufactured  for  ovalduct.  Adapters,  whereby  it  can 
be  joined  to  wrought-iron  conduit  runs,  are  obtainable.  Fig.  40 
shows  an  application  wherein  oval-duct,  laid  in  a  plaster  ceiling, 
joins  a  wrought-iron  conduit  run. 


FIG.  40. — Ovalduct  joined  to  con- 
duit on  a  fire  proof  ceiling. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING  113 

FLEXIBLE  METALLIC  CONDUIT  AND  FLEXIBLE  STEEL  ARMORED 
CABLE  WIRING 

132.  Flexible  metallic  conduit  wiring  for  finished  buildings 

(Fig.  41)  is  widely  applied  where  high-grade  work  is  desired  and 
in  cities  where  the  use  of  metal  conduit  for  concealed  work  is 
mandatory.  It  can  be  used  in  practically  all  locations  and  is 
frequently  preferable  to  rigid  conduit  because  it  can  be  installed 
at  less  cost  and  in  less  time.  It  is  made  in  lengths  of  from  about 
100  ft.  for  the  i/2-in.  diameter  size  to  50  ft.  for  the  2-in.  size,  which 
promotes  rapidity  and  ease  of  installation.  Practically  the  same 
Code  rules  apply  to  flexible  as  to  rigid  conduit.  Double-braid, 
rubber-insulated  wires  must  be  used.  Steel  outlet  boxes  must  be 
installed  at  all  outlets  and  switches.  The  conduit  must  be  con- 
tinuous from  outlet  to  outlet,  must  be  fastened  in  outlet  boxes 
with  lock-nuts  and  bushings  and  it  must  be  grounded, 

/  Insulation 
.•Metal  Sheath  s Metal  Sheath    \  ''-,.         .Conductors-, 


A. Flexible  Conduit.  B.  Steel -Armored  Cable. 

FIG.  41. — Flexible  metallic  and  flexible  steel  armored  cable. 

Due  to  its  flexibility  and  the  fact  that  it  can  be  procured  in 
long  lengths  its  application  is  feasible  and  desirable  where  rigid 
conduit  could  not  be  considered.  It  is  particularly  adaptable  for 
finished-building  wiring.  No  elbow  fittings  are  required  but  the 
duct  must  be  securely  fastened  where  bent  to  form  an  elbow. 
Many  fittings  are  manufactured  especially  for  it.  See  the 
American  Electricians'  Handbook  for  further  information. 

133.  Flexible  steel  armored  conductor  or  flexible  steel  cable 
for  finished-building  wiring  (Fig.  41,  the  two  terms  are  differ- 
ent names  for  the  same  product)  is  used  in  about  the  same  way 
and  for  essentially  the  same  purposes  as  is  flexible  metallic  con- 
duit. However,  the  armored  conductor  is  more  expensive  per 
foot  than  the  equivalent  conduit  into  which  ordinary  rubber- 
insulated  wires  have  been  drawn.  Therefore,  the  conduit  is  used 
instead  of  the  armored  conductor  where  feasible.  For  difficult 
runs  it  is  more  satisfactory  to  fish  the  armored  conductor  through 


114  WIRING  OF  FINSIHED  BUILDINGS 

once  for  all  than  it  is  to  fish  the  flexible  conduit  and  then  pull  the 
conductors  into  it. 

134.  Construction,  Application  and  Grades  of  Flexible  Metallic 
Conduit  and  Flexible  Steel  Armored  Conductor  (Fig.  41).    The 
conduit  is  made  by  rolling  spirally  together  strips  of  zinc-coated 
sheet  steel.     The  edges  of  the  strips  are  joined  so  that  a  flexible 
tube  is  formed.     The  armored  conductor  or  cable  is  the  conduit 
plus  insulated  conductors.     The  metal  strips  are  spirally  formed 
around  the  insulated  conductor.     Flexible  cable  is  graded  as  BX 
and  as  BXL.     The  BXL  has  a  lead  sheath  under  the  steel  one,  to 
protect  the  conductors  from  moisture,  which  fits  it  for  use  in  damp 
places.     BXL  can  be  plastered  into  brick  walls.     For  use  on  the 
surface  of  masonry  walls,  unless  they  will  always  give  out  moisture, 
BX  (which  is  the  same  as  the  BXL  except  that  it  has  no  lead 
sheath)  is  usually  approved. 

135.  Splicing  flexible  conduit  is  effected  as  illustrated  in  Fig.  42. 
Short  lengths  are  not  thrown  away  but  are  joined  with  the  special 


,     Threaded 
-De, -tot  i  I  -      for 

Conduit 

'Flexible    Conduit,^ 
Connector  \ 


Clamping  Screws'--' 
Flexible  to  Rigid  Conduit.  Flexible  -to  Flexible  Conduit. 

FIG.  42. — Connectors  for  flexible  conduit. 

fitting  as  shown.  Rigid  conduit  can,  likewise,  be  joined  to  flexible 
conduit.  The  use  of  these  connectors  is  not  held  to  conflict 
with  the  Code  rule  that  requires  that  the  flexible  conduit  must  be 
continuous  from  outlet  to  outlet.  The  function  of  the  connector 
for  flexible  conduit  is  the  same  as  that  of  a  coupling  for  rigid 
conduit. 

136.  Installation  of  a  Wall  Bracket  Box  for  Steel  Armored 
Cable  or  Flexible  Conduit.     See  Fig.  43.    The  exact  location  of 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


115 


the  outlet  having  been  determined,  and  the  wireman  having  as- 
sured himself  that  he  can  get  his  conduit  to  the  outlet,  the  hole 
is  made  in  the  plaster  for  the  box.  Place  the  box  (Fig.  44)  on  the 
partition  in  the  position  it  is  to  occupy  and  draw  a  line  around  it 

with  a  pencil.  Cut  around 
this  line  with  a  sharp  chisel 
down  to  the  plaster  and  re- 
move it.  Cut  away  the  sec- 
tion of  lath  extending  across 
the  center  of  the  hole.  Drop 
a  mouse  down  from  the  hole 


FiveKnockouts 
in  Bottom      Holes  for 

FtxtureStud 
'crews 


FlatHead 
WoodScrew 


Round 


FIG.  43. — Section  of  a  partition  show- 
ing flexible  conduit  bracket  outlet  box  in 
position. 


.^  tydeep.) 

FIG.  44. — Standard  ceiling 
box. 


into  the  partition  and  pull  the  end  of  the  conduit  up  and  out 
of  the  hole.  Clamp  a  go-degree  angle  connector  (Fig.  45)  on 
the  end  of  the  conduit  and  fasten  it  into  the  box  with  a  lock- 


..  — -'  Standard       Thread-. 
<i 


A. 

Straight. 


for  Flexible  Conduit 

B. 
45 -Degree. 


FIG.  45.— Angle  connectors  for  flexible  conduit  and  steel  armored  cable. 


nut  as  shown  in  Fig.  43.  Insert  two  7/8-in.  cleats,  one  for 
above  and  one  for  below,  through  the  hole  and  fasten  them  in 
place  inside  the  partition  as  shown,  each  with  a  couple  of  small- 
diameter  wood  screws  turned  in  from  the  outside.  Push  the  box 


116 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


back  in  the  cavity  cut  for  it  and  fasten  it  to  the  cleats  with  wood 
screws.     Fasten  the  fixture  stud  in  position. 

137.  Installation  of  a  Switch  Box  for  Flexible  Conduit  or  Steel 
Armored  Cable.  The  procedure  is  almost  identical  with  that, 
illustrated  in  Fig.  43  and  described  in  136,  of  installing  a  bracket 
box  A  steel  box  which  may  be  used  for  either  a  switch  box  or  a 
plug  receptacle  case  is  shown  in  Fig.  29.  When  used  for  a  switch, 
the  box  is  set  in  the  recess  in  the  partition  so  that  the  adjustable 
lugs  rest  on  the  lath  to  which  the  box  is  to  be  fastened  and  the 
outer  edge  of  the  box  lies  almost  flush  with  the  plaster  surface. 
No.  6  flat-head,  wood  screws  are  used  for  holding  the  box.  When 
the  box  is  utilized  for  a  baseboard  plug  receptacle  the  adjustable 
lugs  are  reversed  so  that  the  face  of  the  box  will  lie  flush  with  the 
face  of  the  baseboard.  In  attaching  flexible  conduit  to  the  box, 

straight  or  angle  connections  (Fig. 
45)  can  be  used.  There  should 
never  be  more  than  two  go-degree 
elbows  in  a  conduit  run.  Where 
there  are  more  than  two  it  is  very 
difficult  to  draw  the  conductors 
through. 

138.  Attaching  a  Flexible  Steel 
Conduit  or  an  Armored  Cable 
Bracket  Outlet  Box  in  a  Partition 
by  Means  of  a  Fixture  Crowfoot 
(Fig.  46).  A  hole  should  be  care- 
fully cut  in  the  lath  and  plaster 
just  large  enough  to  admit  the 
box.  A  crowfoot  should  be  fixed 
to  the  lath  of  the  opposite  side  of 
the  partition  with  wood  screws. 
A  nipple  sufficiently  long  to  extend  about  1/4  in.  into  the  bottom 
of  the  box  should  be  screwed  into  the  crowfoot.  Turn  a  lock-nut 
onto  the  nipple.  With  its  connector  attach  the  conduit  to  the 
box.  Place  the  box,  with  its  center  outlet  hole  over  the  nipple, 
into  the  cavity  prepared  for  its  reception.  If  the  hole  for  the  box 
through  the  plaster  has  been  accurately  cut  so  that  the  box  cannot 
wobble  in  it,  the  method  provides  a  very  firm  support.  In  the 


FIG.  46. — Method  of  mounting  box 
for  bracket  fixture. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


117 


illustration,  a  space  is  shown  between  the  sides  of  the  box  and  the 
plaster — actually  the  box  should  just  fit  the  hole  in  the  plaster. 
This  method  can  also  be  used  for  supporting  ceiling  outlet  boxes 
and  electroliers,  Par.  141. 

139.  Installing  an  Outlet  Box  for  Flexible  Metallic  Conduit  in 
a  Furred  Ceiling  (Fig.  47).  Cut  the  hole  for  the  box  at  the 
correct  location  through  the  lath  and  plaster.  Fish  the  conduit 
to  the  outlet  and  attach  the  connector.  Insert  a  cleat,  suffi- 
ciently long  to  bridge  two  furring  strips,  through  the  outlet  hole 
and  secure  it  directly  over  the  hole  with  long,  small- diameter 
wood  screws.  Attach  the  box  to  the  connector  and  fasten  the 
box  to  the  cleat  with  wood  screws.  The  cleat  transfers  any  weight 
imposed  on  the  box  to  the  furring  strips  which  will  safely  sustain 
any  weight  ordinarily  encountered.  If  the  screw  heads  are 
conspicuous  they  can  be  painted  the  color  of  the  ceiling. 

Cleat  to  Support 
Weight  of  Box  and  fixture, 

*  s/ff/t '  yw&J  sroxy  ss^x  j&^  j 
• 


Lath  and  Plaster* 

Longitudinal  Section.  'Transverse  Section. 

(Box  not  Placed)  {Box  in  Position) 

FIG.  47. — Supporting  outlet  box  on  a  furred  ceiling. 

140.  Placing  the  outlet  boxes  should  be  the  last  step  in  a 
flexible  conduit  job.     The  boxes  should  not  be  removed  after 
they  have  once  been  set  in  a  wall  or  partition.     Their  removal 
usually  disfigures   the  wall  paper  and   decorations.     It   some- 
times is  necessary,  prior  to  the  completion  of  a  job,  to  connect  a 
stray  conduit  into  seme  box  because  of  an  obstacle  preventing  the 
installation  of  the  conduit  as  originally  planned.     Obviously, 
the  conduits  should,  where  possible,  be  installed  complete  before 
the  outlet  boxes  are  installed. 

141.  Attaching  a  Metallic  Flexible  Conduit  Outlet  Box  in  a 
Metal  Ceiling.     See  Fig.  48.     Cut  a  round  hole  in  the  ceiling 


118 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


.-Hardwood Floor 


Metal  Ceilmy  '^Outlet  Box 

FIG.    48.— Outlet    box    attached  in 
ceiling. 


just  large  enough  to  admit  the  outlet  box.  Fish  the  conduits  to 
the  hole  and  attach  a  go-degree  connector  (Fig.  45)  to  each.  Drill 
a  hole,  large  enough  to  accommodate  a  good-sized  wood  screw, 
in  the  center  of  a  pipe  cap  and  secure  the  cap  as  illustrated  to  the 
floor  above,  directly  over  the  center  of  the  hole  for  the  outlet  box. 

Turn  into  the  inverted  pipe  cap  a 
conduit  nipple  of  such  a  length 
that  when  the  outlet  box  is  fast- 
ened on  its  end  the  face  of  the 
box  will  lie  flush  with  the  ceiling 
surface.  Run  a  lock-nut  on  the 
nipple.  Put  the  box  on  the  nip- 
ple, first  having  connected  the 
conduits  into  the  box.  Run  another  lock-nut  on  the  nipple 
to  hold  the  box  in  place.  If  more  convenient,  the  nipple,  pipe 
cap  and  outlet  box  can  be  made  up  as  one  piece  and  the  screw 
can  be  inserted  through  the  nipple  with  a  long-blade  screw 
driver.  A  modification  of  the 
method  of  Fig.  46  for  supporting  a 
bracket  can  also  be  used.  These 
methods  should  not  be  used  where 
the  fixture  will  be  heavy. 

142.  Flexible  metallic   conduit 
must  not  be  used  where  it  is  sub- 
jected  to    moisture.     Sometimes 
inspectors  will  object  to  its  instal- 
lation under  floors  where  scrubbing 
water    might    drip    through.     It 
should  not  be  run  vertically  through 
floors  where  scrubbing  water  may 
affect  it.     If  lead- covered  conduct- 
ors   are   drawn  into  flexible  con- 
duit so  installed,  the  work  will  be 

in  accordance  with  the  Code,  but  the  usual  practice  is  to  install  a 
length  of  rigid  conduit  where  an  exposed  run  passes  through  a 
floor,  Fig.  49. 

143.  A  device  for  pulling  in  flexible  conduit  is  shown  in  Fig. 
50.     It  comprises  a  length  of  sash  cord,  a  piece  of  wire,  a  couple 


FIG.  49. — Rigid  conduit  inserted 
where  conduit  is  exposed  to  mois- 
ture. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING  119 

of  feet  long,  and  a  flexible  conduit  plug  or  drag  which  is  furnished 
by  the  manufacturer  of  the  conduit.  The  wire  is  made  up  about 
the  cord  as  described  for  the  conduit  pulling- in  line  of  Fig.  140. 
In  use  the  plug  is  screwed  into  the  conduit;  the  pulling-in  line  is 
drawn  through  the  wire  way  and  pulls  the  conduit  after  it. 


•'       " — ;     x^ss^^a^ii,*-*^^  -  fulling -in  Line 

Eye  for  Pulling -in  Line 

P|U9'  Plua   in  Conduit. 

FIG.  50. — Arrangement  for  pulling  in  flexible  conduit. 

143a.  Running  Flexible  Metallic  Conduit  or  Armored  Cable  in 
Furred  Walls.  Where  brick  walls  are  furred  the  furring  on  the 
front  and  rear  wall  usually  varies  in  thickness  from  2  in.  to  7/8 
in.  The  furring  on  the  side  walls  is  usually  7/8  in.  thick.  The 
outside  diameter  of  No.  14,  duplex  flexible  armored  cable  is  ap- 
proximately 7/1 6  in.,  hence  it  is  readily  accommodated  in  the 
space  provided  by  furring  strips. 

COMBINATION  OF  RIGID  AND  FLEXIBLE  CONDUIT 

144.  Rigid  Conduit  in  Combination  with  Flexible  Metallic  Con- 
duit. As  hereinbefore  outlined,  it  is  seldom  that  rigid  conduit 
can  be  used  throughout  for  an  entire  finished-building  job.  It  is 
usually  necessary  to  combine  flexible  metallic  conduit  with  it 
for  certain  portions  of  the  work.  It  is  also  true  that  it  is  seldom 
desirable  to  use  flexible  metallic  conduit  exclusively.  There 
are  usually  parts  of  the  installation  for  which  rigid  conduit  can 
be  applied  so  as  to  save  both  time  and  cost.  Where  the  conduit 
run  is  reasonably  straight  and  available  for  manipulation,  rigid 
conduit  can  usually  be  applied  to  advantage.  For  concealed 
runs  and  where  fishing  is  necessary  the  flexible  conduit  is  usually 
the  most  satisfactory. 

144a.  The  Procedure  in  Wiring  a  Building  with  Flexible  Con- 
duit or  Flexible  Armored  Cable.  Usually  the  first  operation  is 
to  locate  all  of  the  outlets,  a  consultation  with  the  owner  being 
required  to  effect  this.  Some  wiremen  then  cut  the  openings 


120 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


for  the  ceiling,  bracket  and  switch  outlets.  Other  men,  as  sug- 
gested elsewhere  herein,  prefer  to  wait,  if  possible,  until  the 
wireways  are  completed  before  any  walls  or  ceilings  are  cut. 
Where  there  is  no  opening  into  the  attic  the  wireman  cuts  one 
in  the  ceiling  of  a  clothes  closet.  A  trap  door  should  be  furnished 
for  and  fitted  to  this  opening.  The  necessary  floor  pockets  are 
cut  and  the  conduit  or  cable  is  fished  into  the  floor  and  partition 
spaces.  Standard  metal  boxes  are  installed  at  each  outlet,  being 
affixed  to  the  lath  or  to  studs  as  herein  elsewhere  described.  For 
straight  electroliers  substantial  supports  must  be  provided.  At 
combination  gas  and  electric  outlets  the  gas  pipe  serves  as  a 
support. 

145.  Flexible  Metallic  Conduit  used  Instead  of  Bending  Rigid 
Conduit.     Fig.  51  shows  an  application  of  this.     It  would  be  quite 


Joists  Slotted 'N 


,•  Flexible  Metallic  Conduit 


Lath  and  Plaster  Ceiling' 


~~  Rigid  Conduit 


Connections*'' 

FIG.  51. — Using  flexible  metallic  conduit  instead  of  a  double  elbow  to  connect 
two  lengths  of  rigid  conduit. 


difficult  to  bend  a  double  elbow  to  fit  in  the  space  indicated  and 
to  connect  it  into  the  conduit  line.  With  the  flexible  metallic 
conduit  the  problem  is  easily  solved. 

146.  Combination  of  Rigid  and  Flexible  Conduit  where  Run  is 
Exposed  to  Moisture.  As  hereinbefore  noted,  flexible  metallic 
conduit  is  not  approved  by  the  Code  where  exposed  to  moisture. 
Where  wet,  damp  or  moist  zones  are  encountered  along  the 
route  of  the  run,  rigid  conduit  should  be  inserted  as  indicated  in 
Fig.  49.  Some  of  the  common  locations  in  which  rigid  is  com- 
monly substituted  for  flexible  conduit  are:  laundries,  lavatories, 
pump  rooms,  around  water  tanks,  and  bath  rooms.  Many 
inspectors  consider  all  cellars  as  "damp"  and  insist  on  the 
installation  of  rigid  conduit  for  all  runs  therein. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


121 


147.  The  substitution  of  one  rigid  conduit  for  several  flexible 
conduits  can  frequently  be  made  to  effect  a  saving  in  time  and 
material.  Fig.  52  illustrates  the  method.  The  conduit  line 
shown  in  Fig.  26,  which  runs  the  entire  length  of  the  second 


,. Flexible  Metallic  Conduit 

j  Duplex  Conductors 
'   -Outlet Box 


f.  %  "Conduits 

,- Outlet  Boxes . 

^"Conduit 


"  Conduit 


Bushing-'    ''-Lock  Nut 


Duplex 
Conductors 


'Duplex 
Conductors; 


FIG.  52. — Rigid  and  flexible  conduit  in  combination. 

floor,  carries  several  circuits.     The  Code  permits   (Rule   26-/>) 

the  same  conduit  to  contain  4  two-wire  or  3  three-wire  circuits 

of  the  same  system  without   special  permission.     Frequently, 

special  permission  can  be  secured  whereby  more  than  the  above 

specified  number  of  circuits  can 

be  carried  in  the  same  conduit. 

Junction  boxes,  as  shown  in  the 

illustration,  must  be  inserted  at 

all  points    where    conduit  runs 

branch  off  or  where  there  are  to 

be  splices  in  the  conductors. 

147a.  A  distribution  cabinet 
and  junction  boxes  in  a  combi- 
nation rigid -and-flexible  COn-  FIG.  52 A.— Distribution  cabinet 
duit  installation  are  shown  in  an.d.  two  Junction  boxes  on  a  cellar 
Fig.  52^4.  Usually  such  cabi- 
nets are  fastened  to  side  walls,  but  in  the  instance  illustrated  the 
ceiling  was  sufficiently  low  that  it  could  be  reached  by  a  man 
standing  on  the  floor.  Hence  it  was  used  instead  of  a  side  wall. 
The  service  switch  cabinet  and  the  meter  are  in  a  room  to  the 
rear  of  that  shown.  From  these  the  feeder  conduit  was  carried 
along  the  ceiling,  cleated  thereto  with  pipe  straps,  to  the  distri- 
bution cabinet.  From  the  cabinet  two  conduits  run,  each  to  a 
junction  box  supported  on  the  ceiling.  From  the  junction  boxes 


122 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


.-Pocket  for 


the  armored  cables  or  flexible  conduits  run  to  the  various  outlets 
on  the  floors  above. 

148.  Conductors  imbedded  within  brick  or  masonry  walls 
must  be  encased  in  flexible  or  rigid  conduit.  If  the  wall  is  or 
may  be  damp  either  rigid  con- 
duit or  leaded,  steel  armored 
cable  must  be  used.  Fig.  53 
illustrates  how  the  wall  may  be 
channeled  and  the  conductors 
supported.  For  supporting  the 
conduit,  pipe  straps  are  some- 


. 

Iron  Wire- 


Conduit 


Brick 
Wall\ 


Nail-. 


I 


Channel 

for 
Conduit 


.Completed 


Hole  for 
Expansion 
Anchor--- 

V%%W, 

! 

WMfflfo 

! 

<j 

'<?/ 
;///•—> 

j) 

Front 
View,, 

$&%& 

^K^f/TT 

w/x/// 

mm 

-.Chant 
for 
Cond. 

•Plaste 

MffiM 

w///% 

yjY%/// 

WM% 

m 

wy/M, 

ww/y/ 

W%$' 

W&-/A 

$    )    Base 

Board  1 

'<$//{/  ' 

%2%y,  I 
W/M. 

1  \                       Floor 

^H^ 

\    hBt 

70  rd        i^ 
Removed  ^ 

1  ..  1 

Hoist 

ffi/My 

rx: 

\ 

"%M% 

r~-Lath  and  Plaster 
Ceiling 

1 

Front  View. 


Sections. 


Sectional  Elevation. 


.Lath  and 

(     Plaster  Partitions^ 


FIG.   53. — Method  of  holding  con-    FIG.   54. — Method  of  cutting  brick 
duit  in  brick  wall.  wall  for  conduit. 

times  used,  but  the  method  illustrated  is  preferable  inasmuch  as 
the  materials  required  are  always  at  hand.  As  shown  in  sec- 
tion A  of  the  figure,  after  the  conduit  is  in  place  in  the  groove 

cut  in  the  brick,  two  nails  are  driven 
part  way  in,  on  opposite  sides  of  the 
conduit.  The  ends  of  a  piece  of  wire, 
preferably  No.  12  galvanized  iron,  are 
twisted  around  the  nail  under  the 
heads,  the  wire  bridging  the  conduit. 
The  nails  are  then  driven  home  and 
the  wire  will  grip  the  conduit  tightly 
as  shown  at  B,  holding  it  firmly  in 
1  place.  Such  supports  should  be  located 


Conduit- 

Y 

Outlet^ 
Box'* 

\ 

-T— 

dj~ 

t-Ouller 
Box 

Conduit': 

*.-fbrtition 

:^: 

. 

ble  conduit.  After  the  conduit  and  out- 
let boxes  are  in  position  in  a  wall  the  spaces  around  them  should 
be  filled  up,  flush  with  the  wall  surface,  with  plaster  of  Paris. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING  123 

Fig.  54  shows  the  groove  cut  in  the  wall  for  the  reception  of  the 
conduit. 

149.  One  vertical  conduit  run  can  often  be  made  to  serve  two 
outlets  as  shown  in  Fig.  55.     If  it  is  possible  to  cut  the  holes  for 
the  outlet  boxes  directly  opposite  each  other  from  opposite  faces  of 
the  partition  a  short  conduit  nipple  can  be  employed  to  connect 
the  two  and  one  riser  will  serve  both. 

KNOB  AND  TUBE  WIRING 

150.  Knob  and  tube  wiring  for  finished  buildings  is  the  cheapest 
method  of  installing  concealed  conductors  and  is  probably  more 
widely  used  than  any  of   the  systems  for  old-structure  work. 
Its  use  is  prohibited  in  certain  cities  where  conduit  wiring  only 
is  permitted  for  concealed  work.     When  carefully  installed,  knob 
and  tube  wiring  is  safe.     The  National  Electrical  Code  permits  its 
use  and  gives  specifications  as  to  how  it  should  be  installed. 
The  wires  are  concealed  within  walls,  floors  and  partitions.     On 
joists  and  studs  the  wires  are  supported  on  porcelain  insulators 
(knobs).     Where  they  pass  through  joists  the  holes  are  bushed 
with   porcelain    tubes.     The   American   Electricians'   Handbook 
covers  thoroughly  the  subject  of  knob  and  tube  wiring  in  buildings 
under  construction  and  the  reader  is  referred  to  it  for  the  informa- 
tion that  applies  to  both  old  and  new  building  work, 

151.  The  Use  of  Flexible  Tubing  or  Circular  Loom  in  Finished- 
building  Wiring.     It  must  be  continuous  from  outlet  to  outlet  on 


Circular  Loom-^  j  (  Joist 


^Conductor  J  Continuous  Length 

of  Loom  from 

Outlet  to  Outlet 


H.  Correct. 
FIG.  56. — Methods  of  encasing  conductors  with  loom. 

conductors  that  are  fished  within  walls,  partitions  or  floors  where 
the  conductors  cannot  be  supported  on  porcelain  as  specified  by 
the  Code.  For  example,  in  II  of  Fig.  56  is  shown  the  method  of 


124 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


complying  with  the  rule,  while  I  illustrates  its  infringement — due 
usually  to  ignorance  rather  than  bad  intent  on  the  part  of  the 
wireman.  Beginners  at  finished-house  wiring  sometimes  place 
lengths  of  tubing  on  the  conductor  only  at  points  where  it  passes 
through  outlets,  as  shown  at  I.  The  external  appearance  of  the 
two  methods  is  similar.  But  the  wiring  inspector  readily  can 
determine  whether  the  tubing  covering  is  make-shift  or  complete 
by  grasping  the  tubing  in  one  hand  and  the  conductor  in  the  other 
and  moving  the  wire  within  the  tubing.  If  the  tubing  is  con- 
tinuous from  outlet  to  outlet  the  wire  cannot  be  shifted,  whereas  if 
short  lengths  are  used  only  at  outlets  the  wire  will  move  easily 
within  the  tubing. 

152.  A  method  of  placing  tubing  at  outlets  so  that  it  cannot 
work  through  the  plaster  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  57.  Before  the 
tubing  is  slipped  over  the  wire  a  piece  is  cut  from  the  center  of  the 


Floor 


Flexible  Tubing 

n. 

Tubing   Cut. 

f ^-.-.Conductors 

I. Tubing  in  Place. 

FIG.  57. — Tubing  cut  for  an  outlet. 

tubing  as  indicated  at  C  in  the  figure,  providing  a  length  on  either 
side  of  the  slot  sufficient  for  one  wire.  The  tubing  is  then  slipped 
over  the  conductors.  The  piece  C  prevents  the  tubing  from 
working  into  the  space  between  the  floors. 

153.  Wiring  a  Bracket  to  Meet  Code  Requirements.  In  order 
to  meet  the  Underwriters  requirements  where  flexible  tubing- 
covered  conductor  is  being  ins  tailed,  it  is  often  necessary  to  wire  for 
a  bracket  outlet  as  shown  in  Fig.  58.  A  tap  must  be  brought 
down  from  the  support  in  the  ceiling  space  above  to  the  outlet, 
even  though  a  conductor  (which  ordinarily  might  be  utilized) 
drops  through  the  partition  to  the  floor  below.  No  taps  should  be 
made  within  the  partition  except  at  a  point  of  support — an 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


125 


insulator.  This  important  feature  of  finished-building  wiring 
frequently  is  overlooked  until  the  wiring  inspector's  investi- 
gation and  just  as  frequently  results  in  an  order  to  rearrange  the 
conductors  to  conform  with 
the  wiring  regulations. 

154.  Knob  and  Tube  Meth- 
od of  Carrying  Conductors 
from  Floor  to  Floor  within  a 


1 

^Pocket                  ( 

\ 

qp  """i 
Knobs.  -X: 

-Q           '             "     ~"~ 

\ 

••••Ceiling  Plats 

SideWall 

artition—  > 

\  *>  Outlet 

.--  Floor-Rate 

Floor          | 

f- 

\ 

f- 

'  —  -  —  Joist 

I 

Flexible  Tubing\>    \ 
E&caing    y\\    | 
iConafvctvrS. 


FIG.  58. — Conductor  arrange- 
ment to  satisfy  underwriters' 
requirements. 


'^larh  and  f/asfer\ 
Ceil.og 


FIG.  59.  —  Knob  and  tube  method  of 
wiring  in  a  partition. 


Partition.  See  Fig.  59.  A  point  of  support — a  knob  or  insulator 
— is  arranged  at  the  head  and  at  the  foot  of  the  partition.  The 
raceway  through  the  partition  can  be  prepared  either  with  the 
pipe-extension  boring  tool  of  230 
or  by  one  of  the  other  methods 
described  herein.  The  flexible 
tubing  which  encases  the  conduc- 
tors must  be  continuous  from  in- 
sulator to  insulator. 

155.  In     running     wires     past   FlG-  6o-~ Method  of  running  wires 
,     .  ,    .  past  bracing. 

bridging     between     joists,     the 

method  indicated  in  Fig.  60  should  be  followed.     The  wires  are 

carried  along  on  knobs  which  should  be  secured  on  the  joists  at 


-Plaster 


126 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


intervals  of  4  1/2  ft.,  unless  the  wires  are  encased  in  flexible  tub- 
ing in  which  case  intermediate  supports  are  not  required.  When 
the  wires  are  not  encased  and  are  run  parallel  to  joists  it  is  neces- 
sary to  remove  a  floor  board  at  least  every  4 1/2  ft.  in  order  to  pro- 
vide a  pocket  in  which  the  knobs  can  be  secured  to  the  sides  of  the 
joists.  When  this  method  is  not  followed  there  is  danger  that  the 
wires  will  get  under  or  above  the  braces  instead  of  between  them 
and  when  drawn  taut  they  will  interfere.  If  it  is  not  possible 
to  arrange  supports  every  4  1/2  ft.  the  conductors  must  be  en- 
cased in  flexible  tubing — continuous  from  point  of  support  to 
point  of  support. 

156.  The  knob  and  tube  method  of  wiring  finished-building 
ceiling  outlets  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  61.     Flexible  tubing  is  pushed 

over  the  conductors  so  as  to  ex- 
tend from  the  last  points  of  sup- 
port— the  insulators — to  an  inch 
or  so  beyond  the  ceiling  surface. 
Tubing  if  the  fixture  is  not  heavy,  a  crow- 
foot (see  Fig.  46),  held  to  the 
laths  with  screws,  will  carry  it  but 
if  it  is  heavy  a  ceiling-block  should 


/•To  other  side  of  Circuit 


Insulator- 


Lath  and 
Plaste 


Hole  in  Ceiling 


'd  f 

er  Ceiling-'  \  • 

Conductors? 

FIG.  61. — Knob  and  tube  method 
of  ceiling  outlet  installation. 


be  fastened  to  the  laths  in  the  ceiling  with  long  wood  screws. 
The  crowfoot  can  then  be  fastened  to  this  block. 

157.  Another  method  of  installing  an  electrolier  with  circular 
loom  wiring  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  62.     Cleats  can  be  introduced 


< -Floor  Board 

Pocket^.  i       which  was  Removed 

Floor-,. 


Board  or  Clear  Support 
for  Electrolier 


FIG.  62.  —  Mounting  board  for  electrolier. 


through  the  outlet  hole  and  fastened  to  the  ceiling  with  long, 
flathead  wood  screws.  The  crowfoot  supporting  the  electrolier 
is  fastened  to  the  ceiling  with  long  flathead  wood  screws,  which 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


127 


should  pass  entirely  through  the  plaster  and  into  the  cleat.  Crow- 
feet have  a  tendency  to  dig  into  the  plaster  when  they  are  clamped 
to  a  ceiling  with  screws.  One  way 
to  prevent  this  is  to  use  a  sheet- 
metal  disc  having  holes  drilled  in 
it  for  the  circular  loom  and  for 
the  screws.  The  disc  should  be 
of  such  a  diameter  that  it  will 
readily  fit  within  the  electrolier 
canopy.  By  preventing  a  crow- 
foot from  loosening  the  plaster 
the  disc  will  cause  an  electrolier 
to  hang  plumb. 

158.  The  knob  and  tube  method 
of  wiring  a  bracket  is  pictured  in 
Fig.  63.  Wires  run  within  the 
space  between  floor  and  ceiling 
are  fastened  on  porcelain  knobs 

screwed    into    the   joists.      After   FlG-  63- — Knob  and  tube  wiring 
,    .  i       .,,      ,,      .,  ,      ,    ,  for  a  bracket, 

being   encased  with  flexible  tub- 
ing the  conductors  are  dropped  down  within  the  wall  space  to 
the  bracket  outlet.     The  tubing  should  be  long  enough  to  ex- 


Holes  for                                                                              Stud  — 
Flexible  Conduits. 

f\y^ 

^Lath  and 
*     Plaster 

f 
\      Position  occupied        ': 

• 

by  bracket 

^L 

-canopy^ 

Wooden 
Block- 

JH&] 

Flat-Head     J/^ 

Ir 
I- 

G; 

tvuA 

-Out  let 
Hole 

Front    Elevation.  Section. 

FIG.  64. — Mounting  block  for  bracket  in  position. 

tend  from  the  porcelain  knobs  to  3  in.    beyond  the  plaster  at 
the  outlet.     Holes  are  bored  in  the  fixture  block  to  permit  the 


128 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


-*\\\t- thick 

I  I 


tubing  to  pass  through.  If  the  round  fixture  block  does  not 
provide  sufficient  support,  cleats,  previously  inserted  through 
the  outlet  hole,  can  be  arranged  inside  the  partition  as  described 
for  the  ceiling  outlet  in  157.  Fig.  64  shows  the  mounting  blocks 
for  the  bracket  in  position. 

159.  Wooden  Base  Blocks  for  Fixtures  and 
Switches.  The  Code  specifies  thus:  "  Where 
possible,  at  all  switch  or  fixture  outlets, 
unless  outlet  boxes  which  will  give  proper 
support  for  fixtures  are  used,  a  7/8-in.  block 
must  be  fastened  between  studs  of  floor  tim- 
bers, flush  with  the  back  of  the  lathing  to  hold 
tubing  and  to  support  switches  or  fixtures. 
When  this  cannot  be  done,  wooden  base 
blocks  (Fig.  65),  not  less  than  3/4  in.  in 
thickness,  securely  screwed  to  the  lathing,  or  approved  fittings 
or  plates  designed  for  the  service,  must  be  provided  for  switches, 
and  also  for  fixtures  not  attached  to  gas  pipes  or  conduit." 


-Hole  for 
Switch 


FIG.  65. — Wood 
block  for  mounting 
flush  switch. 


METAL  MOLDING  WIRING 

160.  Metal  Molding  Wiring  for 
Finished  Buildings.  Although 
this  is  a  relatively  new  product  it 
has  been  used  to  some  extent  for 
finished-building  wiring,  particu- 
larly for  extensions  to  existing 
installations  where  it  is  not  desir- 
able to  mar  the  wall  or  partition 
as  in  Fig.  66.  The  molding  is 
compact,  Fig.  67,  and  is  inconspi- 
cuous, particularly  when  painted 
to  match  the  trim  in  the  room 
where  it  is  installed.  For  exposed 
wiring,  metal  molding  presents 

a  better  appearance  than  any  other  material  available.  It  is 
Sherardized  and  hence  will  readily  take  either  oil  or  water- 
color  paints.  It  can  be  easily  fixed  to  any  sort  of  a  surface 


FIG.  66. — Installation  of  metal 
molding  to  serve  brackets. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


129 


with  either  wood  or  machine  screws  or  toggle  bolts  and  a  variety 
of  fittings  are  manufactured  which  will  adapt  the  product  to  al- 
most any  conceivable  condition.  It  is  likely  that  it  will  be  widely 
used  in  the  future  for  finished-building  wiring.  The  molding 
can  be  arranged  in  panel  effects  and  when  so  laid  out  it  can  be 

Conductors 


tapping  !<_.,- g^-—*          _^p.      Capping 

FIG.  67. — National  metal  molding. 


Section. 


made  to  improve  rather  than  to  detract  from  the  appearance  of  a 
surface.  Fig.  6jA  shows  an  installation  made  along  these  lines. 
161.  Brief  of  National  Electrical  Code  Rules  Affecting  the  In- 
stallation of  Metal  Molding.  Allowable  wattage  is  1320  and 
maximum  voltage  is  300.  There  is  no  specific  rule  relating  to  the 


$ZZ%%P2 

4--_ 

////Y//// 
'/X////Y/, 

«-  Metal  Molding 

*  \ 

///Jv///, 

V//X////. 

<••  Iron  ^ipe  or  Conduit 

W///X// 

y///y//// 

'//////Y/. 

////////, 

//X////Y/, 

5'0"in  Warehouse 
or  Exposed  Places 
0'3"  elsewhere 

<--Pipe  Straps 

Y//A////, 

Y/Y///X// 

///////// 

'/X////Y// 

'///X////, 

'/X//////. 

y///X////, 

'/^///x//. 

'///////// 

W* 

Y//////// 

t  Metal  Molding 
<-  Molding  Clamp 

\ 

vBzZSZt. 

'////V//A 

//X////Y/, 

y///^////, 

y/////A//. 

'////¥//// 

^ 

Y/S///X/, 

Y7//V//// 

•$%& 

FIG.  67^. — Metal  molding  installed 
in  a  panel  effect. 


FIG.  68. — Metal  molding  through 
floor  protected  by  iron  pipe. 


number  of  circuits  that  can  be  carried  in  one  molding  but  the 
National  Molding  will  accommodate  four  No.  14  wires.  Rubber- 
insulated  wire  must  be  used  but  single-braid  wire  is  accepted. 
Where  the  molding  passes  through  floors  it  must  be  protected 
against  mechanical  injury  and  moisture  by  an  iron  pipe  as  shown 


130  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

in  Fig.  68.  In  warehouses,  factories  and  similar  places,  the  pipe 
must  extend  to  at  least  5  ft.  above  the  floor,  but  in  residences  and 
where  the  possibility  of  injury  is  remote,  an  extension  of  but  3  in. 
is  accepted.  Frequently  a  length  of  conduit  is  inserted,  by 
means  of  approved  fittings,  in  the  molding  run  where  it  passes 
through  a  floor.  Metal  molding  may  be  run  directly  through 
partitions,  without  further  protection,  provided  they  are  dry. 
The  entire  molding  system  must  be  electrically  continuous  and 
must  be  thoroughly  grounded. 

161a.  Cost  of  Metal  Molding  Installations.  The  plain 
molding,  not  installed,  costs  about  4  cents  per  foot.  Cost  of 
fittings  and  labor  vary  with  the  nature  of  the  job  and  of  the 
surface  on  which  the  molding  is  to  be  mounted.  Molding 
fittings  cost  less  than  equivalent  conduit  fittings.  Single-braid 
rubber-insulated  wire  is  approved  and  preferable  for  metal  molding, 
which  effects  a  saving  as  compared  with  conduit  for  which  double- 
braid  wire  is  required.  A  completed  metal  molding  job  will  cost 
less  than  an  equivalent  conduit  job  on  account  of  both  the  saving 
in  labor  and  in  cost  of  fittings.  The  greater  the  number  of 
outlets  the  greater  the  difference  in  cost. 

Cost  of  labor  varies  with  the  surface  and  with  general  conditions. 
Labor  cost  on  the  molding  is  20  to  30  per  cent,  less  than  on  con- 
duit. A  considerable  saving  in  labor  cost  can  be  effected  through 
the  application  of  the  punch  and  shear  specially  designed  for 
metal  molding  work.  Fifty  cuts  can  be  made  with  the  shear  in 
fifteen  minutes  while  it  requires  in  the  nieghborhood  of  five  min- 
utes to  make  one  cut  with  a  hack  saw.  Where  the  wiremen  are 
inexperienced  in  metal  molding  manipulation  the  total  cost  for  the 
molding  will  be  about  the  same  as  for  conduit.  Where  the  wire- 
men  are  experienced  the  total  cost  will  run  from  20  to  30  per  cent, 
less. 

WOODEN  MOLDING  WIRING 

162.  Wooden  Molding  for  Finished-building  Wiring.  Although 
its  use  is  prohibited  in  certain  cities,  wooden  molding  provides  a 
method  of  wiring  that  is  satisfactory  for  small  residences  and 
business  houses — the  places  that  the  central  station  has  difficulty 
in  connecting  because  of  the  fact  that  the  wiring  must  be  in- 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


131 


stalled  at  very  low  cost  if  the  proposition  is  to  be  of  interest  to  the 
prospective  consumer.  Wooden  molding  wiring  is  the  cheapest 
of  all  of  the  methods  except  open  wiring  on  knobs  and  cleats.  The 
American  Electricians'  Handbook  gives  much  data  that  cannot  be 
included  here  in  relation  to  the  installation  of  wooden  molding. 

163.  Brief  of  National  Electrical  Code  Requirements  Affecting 
the  Installation  of  Wooden  Molding.     Its  use  is  prohibited  in 
damp  places,  in  rooms  where  there  are  fumes  or  in  elevator  shafts. 
(Iron  conduit  should  always  be  used  in  elevator  shafts.)     Approved 
fittings  are  made  whereby  molding  wiring  can  be  used  in  combina- 
tion  with   the   other   methods.     Single-braid,    rubber-insulated 
wire  must   be   used   in   molding.     Where  a  circuit  in  molding 
runs  into  conduit,  double-braid  wire,  spliced  to  the  single-braid 
molding  wire,  must  be  used  in  the  conduit.     Where  wire  from 
molding  runs  into  flexible  tubing  or  loom,  single-braid  wire  may  be 
used  in  both  molding  and  flexible  tubing. 

164.  Different  forms  of  wooden  molding  are  shown  in  Fig.  69. 
Both  two-wire  and  three-wire  moldings  can  be  obtained.     The 


Grooves  for 

Conductors^ 


Capping. 


Fancy    Cappings. 
FIG.  69. — Commercial  forms  of  wooden  molding. 


Picture   Molding 
Capping . 


three-wire  is  seldom  used  except  for  three-way  switches  and  for 
feeder  runs  from  the  entrance  to  the  distribution  center.  For 
high-class  work,  molding  and  capping  of  a  hard  wood  to  match 
the  trim  of  the  room  in  which  it  is  to  be  installed  can  be  pur- 
chased. Soft-wood  molding  is  much  more  easily  obtained  and 
installed.  Capping,  of  various  forms  as  suggested  in  the  figure, 
can  be  purchased. 

165.  A  method  of  wiring  for  a  side  outlet  with  molding  is 
delineated  in  Fig.  70.  The  molding  is  carried  along  the  base- 
board to  a  point  directly  under  the  point  where  the  side  outlet, 
for  either  the  switch  or  bracket,  is  to  be  located.  The  conductors 


132 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


are  then  fished  from  a  hole,  in  the  baseboard  under  the  molding, 
to  the  outlet  hole  and  are  encased  in  flexible  tubing. 
166.  The  method  of  installing  a  fixture  served  through  molding 

is  shown  in  Fig.   71.     A  wooden  Ceiling-block,  about  5    in.  in 


FIG.  70. — Molding  wiring  for  a  side 
outlet. 


Fixture  Stem 

FIG.  71. — Method  of  supporting  a 
fixture. 


diameter,  provides  a  substantial  support  to  which  the  fixture 
crowfoot  is  secured  with  wood  screws.  The  block  is  so  grooved 
that  the  wires  can  be  carried  into  the  fixture  without  cutting  the 
canopy.  • 

167.  Conductors  can  be  carried 
concealed  within  molding  to  an 
electrolier  when  it  is  impracticable 
to  fish  within  partitions.  Fig.  72 
illustrates  a  typical  application 
of  this  method.  The  conductors 


Loom  En 


on 
Joists-.* 

sect 

i      I 

**\  I 

\      i 

l| 

i      1 

1 

L/feMta  ^ 

A,ji_ 

jl           i^ 

flexible  TubinQ 


Floor,  Second  Story 


DD 

DG 


,     '-Molding-.. 


Encased 
Conductors 


Floor,  First  Story., 


S  e  c1"  i  o  n 


Ceil  'ng- 


FIG.  72. — Conductors  carried  in 
molding  to  electrolier. 


FIG.  73. — Detail  where  conductors 
enter  molding. 


are  carried  from  the  floor  below  up  one  corner  and  around 
the  ceiling  of  the  room  in  molding,  and  then  are  fished  from 
point  A-i,  Fig.  72,  to  the  electrolier  outlet  in  the  center  of  the 
room.  An  L-shaped  piece  should  be  cut  out  of  the  molding  as 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


133 


indicated  in  Fig.  73  to  accommodate  the  ends  of  the  circular 
loom.  This  method  of  concealing  conductors  often  is  much  less 
expensive  than  fish-wiring. 

168.  Wooden  Molding  for  Extensions  to  Existing  Installa- 
tions. The  method  is  very  convenient  for  this  purpose.  Fig. 
74  illustrates  an  example  where  it  is  used  for  increasing  the  number 
of  outlets  in  an  office- building  room.  The  existing  outlets  have 
been  tapped  and  molding,  attached  to  the  ceiling,  is  run  to  supply 
the  new  ones.  The  dead  sections  of  molding — those  which  con- 
tain no  wires  and  which  were  run  merely  to  make  the  job  pre- 
sent a  symmetrical  appearance — are  shown  shaded.  In  making 


FIG.  74. — Extensions  to  wiring  in  an  office  using  wooden  molding. 

such  additions  it  is  necessary  to  so  plan  the  work  that  the  Code 
limit  of  660  watts  per  branch  circuit  will  not  be  exceeded.  The 
panel-box  directory,  if  there  is  one,  should  be  consulted  and  a 
sketch  should  be  made  indicating  just  how  each  branch  circuit  is 
to  be  extended  and  the  route  that  it  should  take. 

169.  A  combination  of  wooden  molding  and  flexible  tubing  for 
wiring  an  apartment  is  shown  in  Fig.  75.  Flexible  metallic 
conduit  or  flexible  armored  cable  could  be  substituted  for  the 
flexible  tubing  where  the  increased  cost  is  justified  or  where 
the  use  of  metal  conduit  is  compulsory.  The  flexible  tubing  is 
used  for  the  portions  of  the  installation  where  it  can  be  readily 


134 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


fished  in  and  wooden  molding,  fastened  to  the  ceiling,  is  used 
for  the  balance.  The  circuits  in  the  hall  are  in  molding.  Flexible- 
tubing-encased  conductors  are  fished  from  the  hall  to  the  outlets. 


Flexible 
Tubing- 


-FtetiUg 
Tubing 


FIG.  75. — Wiring  of  an  apartment  using  wooden  molding  and  flexible  tubing. 

If  the  ceilings  are  furred  the  fishing  can  be  very  easily  done. 
If  metal  conduit  is  used,  steel  boxes  are  required  at  all  outlets  and 
junctions. 


FIG.  76. — Use  of  dead  molding  to  insure  a  symmetrical  appearance. 

170.  "Dead"  molding  is  often  placed  so  that  the  installation 
will  have  a  symmetrical  appearance.    Figs.  74  and  76  illustrate 


METHODS  OF  WIRING  135 

the  idea.  In  Fig.  76  two  outlets  on  the  ceiling  are  fed  in  molding 
from  the  panel  box.  "Dead"  molding  with  a  picture  molding 
capping  (Fig.  69)  is  placed  almost  entirely  around  the  room  and 
much  of  the  molding  attached  to  the  ceiling  is  dead.  The  molding 
that  is  shaded  is  "dead"  and  that  shown  white  carries  conductors. 


METHODS  USED  IN  EUROPE 

171.  Methods  Used  in  Europe  for  Wiring  Finished  Buildings. 

This  subject  is  covered  quite  thoroughly  in  a  report  "The  Success- 
ful Handling  of  the  Small  Customer  in  Europe"  read  by  its  author, 
S.  E.  Doane,  before  the  June,  1914,  convention  of  the  National 
Electric  Light  Association  in  Philadelphia.  The  complete  re- 
port was  published  in  Electrical  World  for  May  23,  1914,  and  has 
been  reprinted  as  a  separate  publication  by  the  National  Electric 
Light  Association.  Mr.  Doane  personally  visited  many  European 
cities  and  gave  the  subject  very  thorough  study.  Tables,  data 
and  illustrations  are  included  in  his  paper  that  outline  very  com- 
prehensively the  relation  of  the  central  stations  to  their  small 
customers  and  the  subjects  of  getting,  maintaining  and  charging 
for  the  business  where  the  buildings  must  be  wired.  Every 
central-station  man  should  secure  and  study  this  report.  It 
appears  that  the  European  central  stations  have  thus  far  been 
more  successful  than  those  of  this  country  in  making  profitable 
customers  of  the  small  consumers.  One  reason  for  this  is, 
apparently,  that  they  can  install  reliable  and  sightly  wiring  jobs 
at  considerably  lower  costs  than  those  that  obtain  here.  For 
this  reason  an  outline  of  the  foreign  methods  should  be  valuable. 
Probably  a  low  cost,  inconspicuous  method  of  exposed  wiring 
similar  to  some  of  those  described  in  the  following  paragraphs  will 
be  ultimately  developed  in  this  country.  The  information  that 
follows  is  abstracted  from  Mr.  Doane's  report. 

172.  General  European  Practice.    Flexible  Cord  on  Glass 
Button  Construction.    The  methods  of  wiring  vary  even  within 
the  same  country.     Flexible  twin  cord  on  glass  buttons,  one  of  the 
oldest  wiring  schemes,  is  still  used  when  the  installation  must 
be  very  cheap  or  where  extensions  are  made  to  existing  installa- 
tions in  finished  buildings ;  but  there  is  a  marked  tendency  in  most 


136 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


places  to  discontinue  this  method  in  favor  of  more  substantial 
construction.  A  number  of  central  stations  in  Germany  and 
Austria — 'for  instance,  in  the  whole  northern  part  of  Bohemia — • 
are  prohibiting  the  use  of  flexible  cord  and  glass  buttons. 

173.  For  wiring  small  finished  buildings  at  Milan,  Italy, 
the  method  illustrated  in  Fig.  77  has  been  used.  The  picture 
shows  a  typical  two-room  installation.  One  lamp  is  supposed  to 
be  in  each  room.  Wooden  molding  is  used  on  the  walls  close 
to  the  ceiling  for  encasing  the  wires.  The  leads  to  fixtures  and 
switches  are  in  sheet-metal-covered,  impregnated-paper  tubes. 

174.  The  Bergmann  Tube 
System.  The  tubes  were 
made  of  paper  impregnated 
with  an  asphaltum-like  sub- 
stance. In  later  years  these 
were  protected  by  a  thin  cover 
(o.oi  in.  thick)  of  iron  or  sheet 
brass.  The  tubes  were  laid  on 
or  under  the  surface  of  the  wall 
and  rubber-insulated  wires  were 
drawn  into  them.  Under  the 
German  rules  the  use  of  unprotected  Bergmann  tubes  is  now 
prohibited.  These  tubes  must  now  be  covered  with  brass  or  iron. 
The  metal  cover,  however,  is  very  thin  and  does  not  afford 
much  protection  against  nails. 

175.  The  Peschel  Tube  System.  One  of  the  largest  electrical 
firms  in  Germany,  the  Siemens-Schuckertwerke,  introduced 
about  thirteen  years  ago  a  system  of  enamel-covered  steel  pipes, 
with  open  seams  to  permit  condensation  to  escape.  These  tubes, 
which  are  named  after  the  inventor,  are  very  thin,  being  about 
0.03  in.  thick.  The  weight  of  100  ft.  of  tubes  of  i4-mm.  (9/i6-in.) 
inside  diameter  is  less  than  19  Ib.  This  pipe  is  used  on  or  inside 
the  wall.  The  separate  sections  of  tube,  which  are  made  in 
lengths  of  10  ft.,  are  joined  to  each  other  and  to  the  fittings  by 
means  of  couplings  and  held  together,  not  by  screw  threads,  for 
which  the  walls  of  the  pipe  would  be  too  thin,  but  by  the  spring 
action  of  the  open-seam  steel  pipe.  The  outside  of  the  pipe  is 
just  a  trifle  larger  than  the  inside  of  the  couplings,  and  when  in- 


FIG.  77. — Fittings,  wiring  and  fix- 
tures used  for  a  two-room  residence 
at  Milan,  Italy. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING  137 

serting  it  into  the  latter  the  pipe  must  be  slightly  squeezed 
together. 

In  many  instances  this  Peschel  tube  is  used  as  a  return  circuit 
in  cases  where  one  of  the  conductors  is  grounded.  In  such  a  case, 
before  joining  the  tubes  and  couplings  together,  the  enamel  of 
the  former  is  scraped  off  as  far  as  the  coupling  extends.  Expe- 
rience has  shown  that  the  electrical  resistance  of  the  system  of 
steel  pipes  connected  as  described  is  far  below  the  permissible 
maximum.  The  cross-section  of  the  tubes  is  dimensioned  with 
a  view  to  giving  them  the  proper  current-carrying  capacity. 

176.  The  "Plaster  Hose"  System  in  Austria.    This  is  an  inex- 
pensive system  of  wiring  employed  largely  in  stone  and  brick 
buildings.    A  groove  i  1/2  in.  deep  is  chiseled  into  the  plaster 
and  brick,  and  a  piece  of  very  thick  walled  rubber  hose,  greased 
with  soft  soap  on  the  outside,  is  laid  in  the  groove.     The  whole 
is  then  plastered  up  and  surfaced  off  smooth.     Both  ends  of  the 
rubber    hose,    however,    extend   from    the   plaster.    After    the 
plaster  has  hardened  the  rubber  hose  is  pulled  out,  the  soap  pre- 
venting the  plaster  from  sticking  to  it.     The  result  is  a  hole 
extending  under  the  surface  of  the  wall  through  which  the  rubber- 
covered  wires  are  fished.     If  junction  boxes  are  required  a  block  of 
wood  the  shape  of  a  truncated  cone  is  inserted  into  the  plaster. 
After  the  plaster  has  hardened  it  is  removed.     The  round  hole 
in  the  wall  is  afterward  covered  by  a  piece  of  circular  sheet  iron 
maintained  in  place  by  two  elastic  metal  strips  riveted  to  the  back 
of  the  sheet.    The  strips  press  against  the  side  of  the  hole  in  the 
wall  and  keep  the  cover  in  place  by  friction.     This  cover  may 
afterward  be  painted  over  or  covered  with  wall  paper,  so  that  the 
whole  installation  when  finished  is  practically  invisible.     This 
system,  however,  is  now  being  superseded  by  the  Peschel  system, 
since  the  latter  is  only  slightly  more  expensive  and  much  more 
substantial. 

177.  Kuhlo  wire  provides  a  system  which  is  rapidly  super- 
seding the  other  inexpensive  wiring  methods.     It  is  particularly 
adapted  for  the  wiring  of  existing  buildings  and  for  extensions 
to  older  installations  that  must  be  made  with  as  little  disturbance 
and  dirt  as  possible.     In  this  system  two-conductor  or  three-con- 
ductor cable  protected  by  thin  brass  or  by  thin  lead-covered  iron 


138  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

sheet  is  used.  (See  Fig.  78.)  The  thickness  of  this  sheet  cover- 
ing is  about  i/  100  in.  The  metal  is  pressed  around  the  insulated 
wire  or  cable  and  the  edges  are  folded  over  one  another  so  that  a 
seam  results  running  lengthwise  of  the  wire.  This  seam,  which 
is  tightly  pressed  together,  is  water-tight  for  all  practical  purposes, 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  metal  cover  which  takes  the  place 
of  metal  tubes  in  other  systems  of  wiring  is  in  close  contact 
with  the  insulation,  without  leaving  a  pocket  for  condensed 
water. 

For  grounded  return  circuits  the  metal  covering  may  be  used 
as  the  return  circuit.  As  the  number  of  inside  conductors  of  this 
kind  of  wire  is  one,  two  or  three,  the  total  number  of  conductors 
will  be  two,  three  and  four  respectively,  in  case  the  outer  cover 
is  used  as  a  conductor  also.  The  largest  part  of  the  material 


..-  Metallic  SteatH. 


Copper 
Wire  < 


Triple  Conductor  Double  Conductor. 

FIG.  78. — Kuhlo  wire. 

used  is  two-conductor  wire,  which  means  one  or  two  inner  wires, 
according  to  whether  the  outer  cover  is  used  as  a  conductor  or  not. 

This  wire  was  invented  by  Mr.  Kuhlo,  director  of  the  electric 
central  station  in  Stettin,  and  is  marketed  on  a  large  scale  by  the 
Siemens-Schuckertwerke.  A  year  ago  six  or  seven  other  firms — 
among  them  the  Allgemeine  Elektricitats  Gesellschaf  t — started  the 
manufacture  of  this  wire  under  the  name  of  "Rohrdraht,"  which 
means  tube  wire. 

178.  Installation  of  "Kuhlo"  Wire.  The  wire  can  be  erected 
in  a  number  of  different  ways,  either  buried  in  the  wall  or  cleated 
to  the  surface  of  the  wall.  The  former  method  is  at  present  not 
permitted,  according  to  the  literal  wording  of  the  German  rules, 
which  were  made  before  the  general  introduction  of  the  Kuhlo 
wire.  In  practice  the  scruples  against  burying  wires  in  plaster  do 
not  seem  to  be  shared  generally,  and  many  wiremen  are  conceal- 
ing the  Kuhlo  wire  when  occasion  demands.  For  this  purpose  a 
special  tool,  consisting  of  two  4-in.  saws  riveted  together  in  par- 


METHODS  OF  WIRING 


139 


allel  position  so  as  to  leave  a  space  of  about  1/4  in.  between  them, 
is  used.  This  double  saw  cuts  a  clean  groove  in  the  plaster 
especially  when  guided  by  a  straight-edge.  The  wire  can  then  be 
placed  in  this  groove  and  plastered  in. 

In  most  cases  it  is  preferable  to  fasten  the  Kuhlo  wire  to  the 
surface  of  the  wall,  not  only  for  reasons  of  economy,  but  also 
because  less  disturbance  and  dirt  will  be  caused  that  way  in 
finished  buildings  with  painted  or  papered  walls.  Kuhlo  wire  is 
unobtrusive  in  appearance.  The  thinnest  wire  with  single 
conductor  (capable  of  carrying  6  amp.  under  the  German  rules) 
has  an  outer  diameter  of  only  4.3  mm.,  or  less  than  3/16  in.  The 
wire  can  be  run  in  the  corners  of  rooms  or  along  the  frames  of 
doors,  windows  and  picture  molding,  rendering  the  installation 
inconspicuous. 

'Brass  Straps ,..--' Brass  or  Lead  Covered 

>  "  v'  Iron 


Square  -Spikes - 

FIG.  79. — Fasteners  for  Kuhlo  wire. 

There  are  several  methods  in  use  for  fixing  Kuhlo  wires  to  the 
surface  of  a  wall,  the  simplest  being  to  nail  it  down  with  proper 
staples.  Other  methods  are  permitted  by  the  German  rules,  such 
as  holding  the  wire  down  by  straps  (Fig.  79)  which  are  made  of 
brass-covered  or  lead-covered  iron,  in  accordance  with  the  material 
covering  the  wire.  These  straps  have  lugs  on  one  side  with  holes 
in  them.  A  piece  of  square  steel  or  spike  about  i  1/4  in.  long 
having  a  tapped  hole  in  its  head  is  driven  into  the  brick  wall  until 
its  head  is  flush  with  its  surface.  The  strap  is  then  screwed  down 
on  the  wall  by  means  of  a  small  iron  machine  screw  turning  into 
the  hole  in  the  center  of  the  square  piece. 

Before  screwing  the  strap  down  the  wire  is  passed  under  it  and 
then  held  in  place.  Instead  of  using  rigid  straps  to  fit  the  wire, 


140 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


flexible  brass  straps  may  also  be  used.  These  are  bent  around 
the  wire  after  one  end  is  screwed  onto  the  steel  spike.  This  has 
the  advantage  that  the  steel  spikes  can  be  driven  into  the  wall 
along  the  path  of  the  wire,  whereas  with  the  first-named  type 
of  straps  the  spikes  must  be  driven  in  about  3/8  in.  or  1/2  in.  to  the 
side  of  that  line.  The  flexible  straps,  which  are  rolled  manually 
around  the  wire,  do  not  present  as  neat  an  appearance  as  do  the 
others. 


,  Kuhlo  Wire  Supported  from  Ceilfr, 
on  Hangers 


FIG.  80. — Installation  of  Kuhlo  wire  In  a  residence. 

By  a  third  method  the  Kuhlo  wire  is  held  to  the  surface  with 
small  soft-brass  fork-shaped  supports  (Fig.  79)  which  also  are 
screwed  into  the  steel  spikes  and  then  pressed  with  pliers  around 
the  wire.  On  ceilings  it  is  sometimes  desirable  to  carry  the  wire 
about  2  in.  or  2  1/2  in.  away  from  the  surface  to  avoid  plaster 
ornaments  as  shown  in  Fig.  80,  which  also  shows  such  carriers 
screwed  into  the  ceiling  and  holding  the  wire  by  means  of  clamps. 

The  smaller  types  of  single  and  double  conductor,  which  are 
almost  exclusively  used  in  ordinary  house  wiring,  can  be  bent 
by  hand.  Stronger  wires  must  be  bent  with  a  special  tool. 
Another  handy  tool  is  a  pair  of  special  pliers  used  when  stripping 
the  wire  of  its  cover  at  the  ends. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING  141 

179.  Outlet  and  Other  Fittings  for  Kuhlo  Wire.  The  outlet 
boxes  for  residences  are  made  of  porcelain.  Wher,e  mechanical 
abuse  is  likely,  or  in  dusty  places,  metal  outer  boxes  are  used,  con- 
sisting of  cast-iron  bases  with  tight-fitting  brass  covers  held  in 
place  by  friction. 

The  porcelain  fittings  used  for  residence  and  other  lighter  work 
are  of  two  types — one  for  soldered  and  the  other  for  screwed 
connections.  Both  types  have  a  sheet-brass  base  under  the 
porcelain  parts,  which  insures  good  electrical  connection  between 
the  outer  covers  of  all  the  wires  entering  into  that  outlet  box,  which 
connection  is  essential  in  case  the  metal  coverings  form  part  of 
the  circuit.  The  connection  between  the  sheet-brass  base  of  the 


Single  -  Wire  Conductors. 


I. Cross  Connection   Box.  I.  Tec  Connection  Box. 

FIG.  81. — Fittings  for  Kuhlo  wire. 

outlet  boxes  and  the  outer  conductors  of  the  Kuhlo  wire  is  made  in 
the  same  way  as  that  of  the  inner  conductors,  namely,  soldered  or 
screwed,  depending  on  the  type  of  fitting  used. 

The  porcelain  fittings,  especially  of  the  soldered  type,  are  very 
small  and  unobtrusive  in  appearance.  Fig.  81  shows  a  T-connec- 
tion  box  with  the  cover  off.  It  is  used  for  connecting  an  ordinary 
single-pole  switch  into  a  horizontal  one-wire  conductor  with 
grounded  return  circuits.  The  length  of  the  porcelain  piece  is 
only  i  3/8  in.  The  vertical  conductor  which  leads  to  the  switch 
must  be  a  two-wire  conductor,  since  the  return  circuit  passes 
unbroken  through  the  metallic  base  of  the  T-fitting.  It  is  not 


142  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

necessary  to  carry  the  grounded  return  circuit  to  the  switch.     Fig. 
8 1  also  shows  a  single-pole  soldered  cross-piece. 

180.  Economy  and  Applications  of  Kuhlo  Wire.    One  of  the 
great  advantages  of  this  method  of  wiring  is  its  cheapness.     When 
the  method  was  new  a  prize  competition  was  arranged  and  it  was 
discovered  that  one  wireman  could  run  200  ft.  of  Kuhlo  wire  per 
'day.     Since  that  time  a  record  has  been  set  of  650  ft.  a  day  per 
wireman.     Many  kinds  of  installations  other   than  residences 
have    been    wired     on    the    Kuhlo    system,    such    as    public 
buildings,  theaters,  chujches,  schools,  hospitals,  factories,  agri- 
cultural establishments,  offices,  hotels,  castles,  villas,  ships  and 
railway  cars. 

181.  Wiring  of  Finished  Buildings  in  England.    A  very  large 
proportion,  possibly  50  per  cent.,  is  of  the  so-called  slip- joint 
tube  wiring;  that  is,  tubing  which  is  not  screwed.     There  are  two 
distinct  types  of  plain  tubing,  the  first  and  cheapest  consisting  of  a 
flat  piece  of  steel  bent  into  circular  form  so  that  the  edges  butt. 
This  is  known  as  split  or  closed- joint  tubing.     The  second  type 
is  made  up  in  the  same  manner  except  that  in  addition  the  edges 
are  brazed  together.     It  is  known  as  brazed  tubing.     The  fittings 
are  either  of  cast  steel  or  stamped. 

Wooden  molding  is  also  used  to  a  large  extent  in  England,  and 
still  more  so  in  France  and  Italy,  whereas  it  is  absolutely  forbidden 
by  the  German  and  Austrian  rules.  It  appears  that  in  England 
also  it  is  going  out  of  use  in  favor  of  "  Stannos"  screwed  tubing  and 
wire-armored  twin  conductor.  The  so-called  "Stannos"  wire 
is  equivalent  to  the  Kuhlo  wire  in  Germany.  Jt  consists  of  a 
rubber-insulated  copper  wire  covered  by  a  thin  copper  sheath 
which  is  rolled  around  the  rubber  in  several  layers  (lengthwise, 
not  in  spirals)  which  are  soldered  together  afterward,  so  as  to 
form  a  solid,  water-tight,  seamless,  tin-coated  copper  tube.  The 
Kuhlo  wire  is  a  later  type  and  is  an  improvement  in  so  far  as  it 
is  cheaper.  In  Germany  it  is  not  considered  inferior  to  Stannos 
wire.  Stannos  wire  is  used  more  in  England,  whereas  the  Ger- 
man Kuhlo  wire  is  used-  more  in  Germany.  This  may  be  due  to 
climatic  as  well  as  to  commercial  causes.  The  moist  weather 
prevailing  in  England  may  make  an  absolutely  water-tight  wiring 
material  more  desirable. 


METHODS  OF  WIRING  143 

Screwed  tubing  is  used  for  high-priced  work  and  is  either 
welded,  solid-brazed  or  solid-drawn.  Wire-armored  twin  con- 
ductors are  considered  most  promising,  but  at  present  are  too 
expensive.  Flexible  twin  cord  on  glass  or  porcelain  knobs  has 
never  been  extensively  employed  in  Great  Britain  and  its  use  is 
being  discontinued  there  just  as  in  Germany  and  Austria. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS 
UNDERWRITERS  AND  MUNICIPAL  REQUIREMENTS 

182.  The  National  Electrical  Code  requirements  should  be 
followed  for  all  work  unless  there  are  local  municipal  require- 
ments that  conflict.    A  copy  of  these  rules  can  be  obtained  by 
applying  to  any  local  fire  inspection  bureau  or  to  The  Under- 
writers' Laboratories,   Chicago,   111.     In  some  cities  municipal 
rules — in  reality  they  are  ordinances — are  in  force  which  take 
precedence  over  the  National  Code  rules  which  have  no  legal 
standing.     The    local    fire-inspection    bureau    and  the   central- 
station  company  will  be  informed  about  these  things  and  should 
be  consulted  if  there  is  any  doubt. 

183.  Before  considering  the  installation  of  knob  and  tube  or 
molding  work  the  authorities  should  be   consulted  because  in 
certain  communities  the  installation  of  wiring  by  these  methods 
is  prohibited. 

GENERAL  CONSIDERATIONS 

184.  Planning  an  Installation.    Before  any  work  is  done  on  a 
finished-building  wiring  installation,  the  initial  step  is  to  make 
a  survey  of  the  premises.     The  lay  of  the  floor  beams  and  of  the 
partitions  should  be  noted  and  the  wireman  should,  if  possible, 
plan  the  run  for  every  wire  before  he  makes  any  openings  in 
exposed  places  and  before  he  locates  his  entrance.    The  cellar 
and  the  attic  should  be  visited  and  all  of  the  closets  inspected. 
By  thus  carefully  analyzing  a  building  it  is  frequently  possible 
to  materially  economize  in  labor  and  material.     Sometimes  a 
raceway,  built  for  pipes  or  due  to  some  builder's  freak,  can  be 
located,  which  extends  from  basement  to  attic,  which  will  ac- 
commodate the  risers.     Horizontal  paths  may,  frequently,  be 
similarly  located.     It  may  be  necessary  to  bore  some  holes  in 
attic  or  cellar  and  to  remove  a  few  boards  in  closets  or  in  other 

144 


PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS  145 

unexposed  locations  and  to  probe  with  a  mouse  or  fish  wire  to 
determine  the  most  suitable  routes  for  the  wiring.  In  any  case 
no  holes  for  switch  boxes  or  electrolier  outlets  should  be  made  in 
walls  or  ceilings  until  the  wireman  is  reasonably  sure  that  he  can 
get  his  conductors  to  them.  Some  skillful  old-building  wire- 
men  never  make  a  hole  for  a  switch  outlet  in  a  wall  or  partition 
until  the  raceway  for  the  conductor  is  complete,  down  within 
the  partition  to  the  switch,  and  a  mouse  has  been  dropped  down 
and  sounded  within  the  partition  for  verification. 

185.  Selection  of  the  Point  of  Entrance,  Meter  and  Distribu- 
tion-center Locations.    The   meter  loop   should,   generally,  be 
located  in  either  the  kitchen,  pantry,  or  cellar.     In  the  smaller 
houses,  the  tablet  board  should  be  located  near  the  meter  and  in 
the  larger  houses,  where  there  are  a  number  of  branch  circuits, 
at  the  central  point  of  distribution  (see  Par.  189).     The  point  of 
entry  should  be  located  with  reference  to  the  accessibility  of  the 
service  connection.    The  run  between   the  entrance  and  the 
meter  location  should  be  of  minimum  length. 

186.  Installation  of  Entrance  Wires.    Where  entrance  wires 
pass  through  the  walls  of  a  frame  house,  porcelain  tubes  are  used, 
one  for  each  wire.     Porcelain  tubes  sometimes  are  installed  at 
entrances   to  brick  houses.     An  iron    conduit    entrance    tube 
should,  preferably,  be  used.     It  is  then  necessary  to  drill  but  one 
hole  through  the  wall  for  conduit,  whereas  for  tubes  two  holes 
are   necessary.     Outlet   fittings   are   required   for   the   conduit, 
which  increases  the  cost,  but  because  it  is  necessary  to  drill  only 
one  hole  the  conduit  is  often  cheaper  than  tubes  and  affords  a 
neater  job. 

187.  Routes  for  Conductors.     In  upper-floor    circuit    wiring 
the  most  generally  adopted  method  is  to  bring  one,  two  or  more 
circuits — according  to  the  load — from  the  distribution  center 
to  the  attic,  whence  they  are  dropped  through  ceilings  and  walls 
to  the  various  bracket,  fixture,  and  switch  outlets.     Running 
conductors  to  first-story  outlets  is  a  more  difficult  task,  as  it 
often  necessitates  the  removal  of  flooring  and  the  utilization  of 
other  methods  to  avoid  the  permanent  mutilation  of  walls  and 
ceilings.     Fig.  179  shows  the  route  followed   by  concealed  con- 
ductors in  the  wiring  of  the  typical  five-room  frame  dwelling. 

10 


146  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

188.  Calculation  of  Wire  Sizes.    This  subject  is  too  extensive 
to  be  treated  in  detail  here.     For  complete  information  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  American  Electricians'1  Handbook.     No.  14  wire 
is  used  almost  universally  for  incandescent  lamp  branch  circuits 
unless  the  circuits  exceed  100  ft.  in  length,  in  which  case  No.  12 
wire  is  used.     If  a  wire  is  too  small,  while  it  may  safely  carry  the 
current  without  exceeding  the  Code  limits,  the  voltage  drop  in  it 
will  be  so  great  that  the  lamps  will  burn  dimly.     No.  14  wire  is  the 
smallest  size  that  is  permitted  by  the  Underwriters.     The  size  of 
wire  that  should  be  used  for  the  run  between  the  entrance  and  the 
distribution  center  is  usually  determined  by  the  current  that  is  to 
be  carried — that  is,  by  the  number  of  lamp  sockets  and  other 
current-using  outlets  installed.     Unless  this  run  is  quite  long, 
wire  of  a  size  that  will  safely  carry  the  current  in  accordance 
with  the  Code  table  (Section  No.  18)  can  be  used  and  the  voltage 
drop  in  it  will  not  be  excessive. 

BRANCH  CIRCUITS,  DISTRIBUTION  CENTERS  AND  PANEL  BOXES 

189.  Determination  of  the  Number  of  Branch  Circuits  Neces- 
sary.    The  National  Electrical  Code  rules  specify  that  cut  outs 
11  must  be  so  placed  that  no  set  of  small  motors,  small  heating  devices 
or  incandescent  lamps,  whether  grouped  on  one  fixture  or  on  several 
fixtures  or  pendants  (not  more  than  sixteen  sockets  or  receptacles),  re- 
quiring more  than  660  watts,  will  be  dependent  on  one  cut  out."     In 
practice  it  is  not  usual  to  connect  more  than  twelve  sockets  on  any 
one  branch  circuit.     Therefore  to  determine  the  number  of  branch 
circuits   necessary:     Divide   the   total  number   of   sockets  and 
receptacles  by  12  and  the  quotient  will  indicate  the  number  of 
branch  circuits  necessary.     It  does  not  pay  to  crowd  sockets  on 
branch  circuits  to  the  limit,  because  this  course  may  render  the 
installation  of  additional  outlets,  which  will  probably  be  required 
sometime,  very  expensive.     In  general  the  sockets  should  be 
assigned  to  the  branch  circuits  so  that  the  loads  on  all  of  the 
circuits  will  be  about  equal.     See  296  for  an  example  installation. 

190.  The  chief  difference  between  the  wiring  of  a  large 
house  and  a  small  one  is  that  the  greater  number  of  branch 
circuits  in  a  large  house  necessitates  the  use  of  a  panel  box.    In 


PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS  147 

all  houses  the  wires  which  lead  from  the  distribution  center  are 
carried  within  floors  and  partitions  in  much  the  same  way.  Out- 
side brick  walls  cannot,  however,  unless  they  are  furred,  be  util- 
ized without  much  expensive  cutting  of  plaster  and  brick  and 
damage  to  the  finish. 

191.  A  panel-box  distribution  center  should  be  installed  at  a 
central  location  in  all  finished  buildings  requiring  four  or  more 
branch  circuits  (a  maximum  load  of  660  watts  being  permitted  on 
each  branch,  see  Par.  189).     The  panel  box  proves  a  time,  labor 
and  money  saver  in  repair  work,  as  the  concentration  of  all  the 
cut  outs  at  one  location  makes  it  a  comparatively  simple  matter 
to  find  trouble  on  the  wiring  system.     Furthermore,  there  is  an 
obvious  advantage  in  having  all  of  the  cut  outs  enclosed  in  a 
fireproofed  case. 

192.  Panel  boxes  or  distribution  centers  should  be  located  as 
near  the  center  of  the  building  as  feasible  so  that  all  of  the  branch 
circuits  will  be  as  short  as  possible.     In  a  one-story  building  the 
distribution  center — a  branch   block  or  two — can   usually  be 
located  near  the  meter  at  the  entrance  or  in  a  hall.     In  a  two- 
story  building  the  best  location  is  usually  in  the  stairway  to 
the  cellar  or  in  a  rear  hall.     In  one  of  three  stories,  the  second- 
story  hall,  as  shown  in  Fig.  181,  is  usually  the  best  location. 
Where  there  are  more  than  three  stories,  distributing  centers 
can  be  effectively  placed  on  every  other  or  on  every  third  floor. 
The  above  applies  to  residences  which  usually  have  relatively 
light  lamp  loads.     In  office  buildings  or  other  places  where  the 
lamp  load  is  dense  it  may  be  necessary  to  locate  one  or  more 
panel  boxes  on  every  floor. 

193.  Construction  of  a  Panel  Box.    Its  location  having  been 
determined,  a  panel  box,  as  illustrated  in  Fig.  82,  can  be  built  to 
fit  the  dimensions  of  the  space  available.     The  slate  tablet  which 
carries  the  main  switch  and  fuse  holders  (or  instead  porcelain 
cut  outs)  is  the  only  part  of  the  equipment  which  it  is  necessary 
to  purchase.     The  box  can  be  made    by    either    wireman    or 
carpenter.     The  i/8-in.  asbestos  lining  is  held  in  place  with  glue 
or  flour  paste.     A  wiring  gutter  is  not  absolutely  essential,  but 
it  is  desirable  in  that  it  permits  the  inside  of  the  box  to  be  wired 
more  neatly.     The  box  is  held  in  place  in  the  partition  with 


148 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


wood  screws  and  is  so  placed  that  its  outer  edge  is  nearly  flush 
with  the  surface  of  the  plastered  wall.  In  finished-building 
wiring,  the  panel  box  should  be  made  to  fit  the  space  within 


,  Width  Determined         ±Ash?<;tos        -  -f,  -     . 

\   by  Space  betw.Studs  ,?    y,S        •'    by  Space  Available 

\4       V   y  H  i\     Linm<3^     •    ^Usually about4. 


Height 

Derermined 
bytheNum 
berof  Branch 

Circuits.-^ 


Bottom  View. 
FIG.  82. — Details  of  panel  box. 

which  it  is  to  be  placed.  In  new  work  the  reverse  is  true;  a  space 
is  made  to  fit  the  box.  Boxes  can  be  purchased  from  electrical 
supply  dealers  that  work  in  nicely  in  finished-building  installa- 
tions. The  all-metal  box  of  Fig.  83  is  low  in  price  and  of  good 

Screws  Holding 
Sheet  Metal  Trim ^        >\^  Trim  to  Box  f Holes  for 

^      /    %X  f      Branch  Circuit 

|  j  Wires 


Porcelain 
Edison  Plug 
Cut-  out 
Branch  Blocks 

"  -Lock 


Hole  for 
Feeder 

Wires 

FIG.  83. — A  sheet-metal  panel  box. 

construction.  However,  due  to  the  fact  that  in  old-building 
wiring  "the  box  must  or  should  be  made  to  fit  the  space"  it  has 
generally  been  found  quite  satisfactory  to  use  the  "  home-made" 


PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS 


149 


article.  Before  the  box  is  placed  in  the  wall  slots  should  be 
cut  in  the  ends  and  holes  should  be  bored  through  the  barriers 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  conductors. 

194.  Construction  and  Installation  of  the  Panel-box  Trim.  The 
trim  or  outer  frame  for  a  panel  box,  pictured  in  Fig.  84,  should  be 
very  neatly  made  by  a  skilled  carpenter  and  should  be  of  material 
similar  to,  or  finished  to  match,  the  adjacent  woodwork.  It  is 
not  usually  feasible  to  purchase  the  box  and  trim  ready-made 
because  each  installation,  ordinarily,  is  different  from  others  as 
to  dimensions  or  in  some  other  respect.  The  trim  should  be 


• 


E, 


Tablet 


•Made  ofg'Stock  and  Stained 
to  Match  other  Woodwork 


Barriers 
formutop 


Front  Elevation. 


**»    BkrAur 


Section. 


trtrotkL 


Door--} 


Wires 
Front  Elevation. 
(Trim  Removed) 


Tranyerse 

Sec?'onal  Elevat,on. 
(Trim  in  fierce) 


FIG.  84.  —  Details  of  panel-box 
trim. 


FIG.  85. — Panel  box  in  position  in 
partition. 


made  of  such  dimensions  that  the  barrier  of  the  box  forms  a  stop 
for  the  door — if  the  box  has  a  gutter.  If  no  gutter  is  provided 
the  sides  and  ends  of  the  box  form  the  door  stop.  The  sides  of 
the  trim  should  extend  about  6  in.  beyond  the  sides  of  the  box 
to  cover  broken  plaster  and  insure  a  neat  appearance.  The  latch 
and  hinges  should  be  made  of 'brass  and  the  door  should  be  paneled 
to  prevent  warping.  The  trim  is  held  to  the  box  with  round- 
head brass  wood  screws. 

195.  Installation  of  the  Panel  Box.  As  shown  in  Fig.  181 
the  panel  box  should  be  installed  in  the  most  central  location 
available — preferably  in  the  partition  of  a  hall  or  closet.  The 
service  wires  pass  through  the  entrance  switch  and  meter  and 
thence  to  the  panel  box.  If  a  main  switch  is  also  desired  it  can 
be  located  on  the  tablet  in  the  panel  box.  From  the  panel  box 


150  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

the  branch  circuits  radiate  in  all  directions  and  are  carried  within 
floors  and  partitions.  The  panel  box  in  position  is  shown  in 
Fig.  85.  The  box  is  held  in  the  partition  with  wood  screws. 

196.  Holes  for  Wrought-iron  Conduit  in  Panel  Boxes.    The 
holes  should  be  bored  before  the  box  is  fitted  into  the  partition. 
The  holes  should  be  located  at  the  points  where  the  conduits 
will  enter.     Each  hole  should  be  3/8  in.  larger  in  diameter  than 
the  nominal  size  of  the  conduit  that  it  is  to  accommodate.  The 
nominal  diameters  of  conduits  are  the   approximate  inside  di- 
ameters.    All  sizes  up  to  and  including  i  1/2  in.  diameter  have 
walls  approximately  1/8  in.  thick.     This  i/8-in.  wall  thickness 
adds  1/4  in.  to  the  nominal  diameter.     Then,  allowing  1/8  in. 
diametral  clearance,  the  hole  for  the  conduit  should  be  3/8  in. 
larger  than  its  nominal  diameter  as  above  noted.     This  does  not 
apply  for  conduits  larger  than   i    1/2   in.     Ordinarily,  7/8-in. 
holes  are  drilled  for  1/2- in.  conduit. 

BUILDING  CONSTRUCTION 

197.  The  finished -building  wireman  should  have  a  knowledge 
of  the  construction  of  buildings.     If  he  knows  how  buildings  are 
framed,  what  timbers  are  concealed  within  the  walls  and  partitions 
and  how  these  timbers  are  arranged,  he  can  do  his  work  much  more 
quickly  and  with  less  damage  to  the  building  than  if  he  does  not 
possess  such  knowledge.     Obviously  it  is  impossible  to  give  here 
any  extended  treatment  of  Building  Construction.     A  few  typical 
details  will  be  shown  and  described.     They  can  be  of  a  general 
character  only,  because  different  methods  of  framing  and  con- 
structing are  in  use  in  different  parts  of  the  country  and,  even  in 
a  given  community,   different  contractors  will  apply  different 
devices  for  accomplishing  a  certain  result.     The  wireman  should 
carefully  study  buildings  being  erected  in  his  city  until  he  is 
thoroughly  familiar  with  the  details  of  their  construction. 

198.  Framing  of  wooden  buildings  varies  in  different  parts 
of  the  country,  but  the  methods  shown  in  Figs.  86  and  87  are  typical 
of  those  in  general  use.     The  wall  construction  of  Fig.  8y/  is 
much  the  best  for  the  finished-building  wireman  because  it  pro- 
vides an  unobstructed  runway  between  the  studs  from  the  attic 


PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS 


151 


Wall  Plate^ 


/Wall  Studs 
"Partii-ion  Studs 
Floor  Joists 


----  Plate  or  Ceiling  Plate 


f,f  Floor  Joists 
.Sill 


.FiG.  86. — Typical  framing  of  a  wooden  building. 


Sheathing--,, 


Siding- 


k-'Lafh  and  Plaster,  or 

Plaster  Board 


Sheath/'ng. 


9  'B 

and  Plaster 
j-IO" Base  Board 
i  \Round 


I.  Non-Continuous  WaUStuds. 


H.  Continuous    Wall     Studs. 


FIG.  87. — Wooden  wall  construction  of  two  types. 


152 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


to  the  floor  of  the  first  story.     Sometimes  the  construction  is 
such  that  this  runway  extends  clear  to  the  basement. 


,-  Plaster  Casing 

\     (  Pulley  Stile 

\  }  .-Blind  Stop 


Inner 

Casing        Ff%%g 
Jamb  ';   Plaster   •    2L. 


^.Blind 


Plaster 
Ground' 


Outside 
Casing 


Aiding  or  Clapboard  ing 


Sill 


FIG.  88. — Construction  around  windows. 

199.  Typical  construction  around  windows  is  shown  in  Fig.  88. 
The  window  frame  in  the  wall  of  a  frame  building  is  usually  made 
as  shown  in  Fig.  89. 

199a.  Furring  Strips  (Fig.  89^!).  Furring  consists  of  flat 
strips  or  pieces  of  wood  varying  in  different  cases  from  1/2  in. 




J"  * 

5? 

w 

2,2*4" 

T 

Zx4"PI. 

l"  Rough 
:   Flooring 

a 

a           a           a 

Plate 

FIG.  89. — Construction  of  a  window  frame. 

to  7/8  in.  in  thickness.  The  strips  are  used  to  bring  irregular  or 
interrupted  work  to  a  regular  or  even  arrangement  or  surface  or 
to  provide  an  air  space.  They  are  used  in  most  parts  of  the  coun- 


PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS 


153 


try  in  ceilings  in  high-class  buildings.  In  the  eastern  section  of  this 
country  they  are  used  to  a  large  extent  on  outside  masonry  walls 
to  exclude  moisture  and  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  heat  or  cold. 
As  shown  in  the  illustration,  the  spaces  provided  by  furring 
strips  furnish  ideal  raceways  for  conductors,  particulary  flex- 
ible armored  cable  (see  143a),  for  finished-building  wiring 
installations. 

Floor 


Joist 


Plaster--' 


'''-Lath 


Furring 
Strips  ' 


Plaster 


I.  Furring  on  a  Brick  Wall. 

FIG.  89^4.- 


I.  Furring  on  a  Ceiling. 
-Furring  strips. 


THREE-WAY  AND  EMERGENCY  SWITCH  CIRCUITS 

200.  For  hall  lighting,  three-way  switch  circuits  are  usually 
installed  so  that  the  hall  lamps  can  be  controlled  from  either 
the  first  or  second  floors  as  shown  in  Fig.  90.  Sometimes  in- 


To  Panel 
YA.     Box 


To  Panel  Bon 


Second    >TX  .  1      /^\S5 

Floor 

;^T 

v 

£. 

'Three-Way 

Switches 

First 

y^ 

( 

* 

Floor 

>&?          \$^/53 

Wiring      Installed. 


Wiring 
Diagra  m. 


FIG.  go. — Wiring  for  hall  lamps  with  three-way  switches. 

stallations  are  made  wherein  the  hall  lamps  are  controlled  from 
three  or  more  points.  Such  control  requires  2  three-way  switches 
and  as  many  additional  commutating  or  four-way  switches  as 
there  are  additional  control  points.  The  running  of  the  wires  for 


154 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


this  form  of  control  in  an  old  house  involves  no  features  different 
from  those  ordinarily  employed  in  such  installations. 

201.  Emergency  or  burglar  circuit  wiring  in  finished  buildings 
is  readily  effected  by  one  of  the  methods  illustrated  in  Figs.  91 
or  92  or  by  a  similar  one.  An  emergency  circuit  comprises  an 
arrangement  whereby  certain  designated  lamps,  or  all  of  the  lamps, 
in  a  building  can  be  lighted  simultaneously,  regardless  of  the  posi- 
tions of  the  individual  switches,  by  throwing  a  master  switch, 
which  is  usually  located  in  the  owner's  room.  Such  provision  is 
very  desirable  in  case  of  fire,  an  attack  by  house  breakers  or  other 


/Double-Pole 

Master  Switch 


Cut-**  -Single-Pole 
Out.  '•      Master  Switch 


(Note.   The  Doited  Lines  represent  the  Wiring  that 

must  be  added  to  provide  Emergency  Control.) 


I.Two    Emergency 

Circuits  and    D.P. 

Master   Switch. 


E.  One  Emergency 
Circuit  and    S.P. 
Master-  Switch. 


FIG.  91. — Wiring  for  emergency  circuits  in  a  finished  building — two- wire 

system. 


emergency.  To  insure  positive  operation  of  the  scheme,  key- 
less sockets  should  be  used  at  all  lamp  outlets  and  the  sockets 
should  be  of  the  type  in  which  the  lamps  can  be  locked.  This 
is  to  prevent  their  being  extinguished  by  being  unscrewed.  The 
service  switch  box  should  be  locked  so  that  its  switch  cannot  be 
opened  by  unauthorized  persons.  In  the  illustrations,  the  dotted 
lines  indicate  the  wiring  that  must  be  added  to  convert  ordinary 


PLANNING  INSTALLATIONS 


155 


lighting  circuits  into  emergency  circuits.  The  circuits  are 
discussed  in  detail  in  the  paragraphs  that  follow. 

202.  Emergency  Circuits  for  Two-yrire  System  Installations. 
Typical  ones  are  shown  in  Fig.  91.  It  is  necessary  to  run  an 
additional  wire  to  each  switch  position  and  to  substitute  a  three- 
way  switch  for  each  old  single-pole  switch.  Where  three-loca- 
tion-control circuits  exist,  it  is  necessary  to  substitute  a  four- 
way  for  one  of  the  old  three-way  switches  as  indicated  in  Fig.  92. 

The  method  shown  in  Fig.  91,  77,  should  not  be  used  for  an 
emergency  circuit  involving  more  than  660  watts,  because  this  is 
the  maximum  capacity  permissible  on  a  single-pole  switch,  hence 
the  method  should  not  be  used  for  an  emergency  circuit  involving 


Lamps 


I.  Three -Way  and  Four- Way  Switches 
Substituted  for  Old.  Single -Pole  and  Three-Way 
Switches.  Respectively. 


1.  Single -Pole  Switches  Remain. 
Four -Way  Substituted  for  Three-Way  Switches 
in  Certain  Instances. 


(Note-.  The  Dotted  Lines  Represent  the  Wiring    which  must  be  Added, 
to  Provide  Emergency  Control.) 

FIG.  92. — Wiring  for  emergency  circuits  in  a  finished  building — three- wire 

system. 

more  than  one  branch  circuit.  The  wiring  of  any  one  branch 
circuit  (that  is,  a  circuit  served  through  its  own  individual  cut 
out)  should  not  be  mixed  with  the  wiring  of  another  branch 
circuit  through  the  medium  of  an  emergency  circuit  unless  the 
emergency  circuit  is  independently  fused  as  in  Fig.  92,7.  Under- 
writers' inspectors  will  not  usually  permit  such  mixing  unless 
fuses  are  used  as  shown.  Where  the  load  on  the  emergency 
circuit  exceeds  660  watts,  or  where  more  than  one  branch  circuit 
is  involved,  two  or  more  single-pole  master  switches  can  be  used 


156  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

as  in  Fig.  pi/,  thus  suitably  subdividing  the  load.  Or  a  modifi- 
cation of  the  methods  of  Fig.  92  can  be  used.  The  emergency  cir- 
cuit may  be  tapped  to  the  house  circuit  wire  at  any  convenient 
point. 

203.  Emergency  circuits  for  three-wire  system  installations 
are  shown  in  Fig.  92,7  and  II.  Both  methods  have  been  accepted 
by  Underwriters'  inspectors  in  certain  localities.  Which  should 
be  used  in  any  particular  case  is  a  matter  of  cost  and  conven- 
ience. In  the  method  of  /,  one  double-pole  master  switch  (it 
may  be  a  single-throw  knife  switch,  or  a  flush  push-button 
switch)  is  used  for  the  master  switch.  The  old  single-pole  switches 
are  replaced  by  three-way  switches  and  the  old  three-way  switches 
at  the  ends  of  two-  or  three-location-control  groups  are  replaced 
by  four- way  switches.  Note  that  the  emergency-circuit  wires  are 
fed  through  their  own  fuses. 

In  92,  //,  a  single- throw,  fused,  knife  switch,  having  as  many 
blades  as  there  are  branch  emergency  circuits,  is  used  for  a  master 
switch  and  the  old  single-pole  switches  are  utilized,  but  new 
four-way  switches  must  be  substituted  for  the  old  three-way 
switches  at  the  ends  of  two-  or  three-location-control  groups. 
With  either  of  the  schemes  of  Fig.  92  the  emergency  circuits 
should  be  about  equally  balanced  on  the  two  sides  of  the  three- 
wire  circuit.  In  the  cut  outs  6-amp.  fuses  may  be  used. 


CHAPTER  IX 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 

NEATNESS  AND  HOW  ATTAINED 

204.  The  necessity  of  neatness  in  finished-building  wiring 

need  hardly  be  mentioned.  Usually  the  buildings  that  are  being 
wired  are  occupied  and  furnished  and  the  tactful  wireman  will 
subject  the  occupants  to  a  mini- 
mum of  inconvenience  and  will 
make  as  little  debris  as  possible. 

205.  Cloths  should  be  carried 
by  wiremen  to  catch  the  dirt 
made     when     cutting    outlets. 
Heavy    muslin    or,    preferably, 


FIG.  92.4. — Illustrating  the  use  of 
the  "drop  cloth." 


FIG.  93. — Umbrella  used  for  catch- 
ing dirt  at  a  ceiling  outlet. 


canvas  are  suitable  materials  and  the  cloths  should  be  at  least  6  ft. 
square.  They  are  sometimes  termed  "drop  cloths."  Whenever 
the  wireman  proposes  to  cut  a  hole  for  a  partition  or  wall  outlet 
the  cloth  should  be  so  spread  out  (Fig.  92^4)  as  to  catch  the  dirt 
resulting  therefrom.  The  same  procedure  should  be  followed  for 
a  ceiling  outlet  and  in  addition  one  of  the  devices  described  in 
the  following  paragraphs  should  be  used. 

157 


158 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


206.  An  inverted  umbreUa  makes  a  good  dirt  catcher  when  the 
wireman  is  working  around  ceiling  outlets.     Its  application  is 
illustrated  in  Fig.  93.     Where  a  gas  pipe  extends  from  the  outlet, 
the  umbrella  can  be  tied  to  it  as  shown.     Where  there  is  no 
object  at  the  outlet  to  which  the  umbrella  can  be  tied  a  helper  can 
hold  it  or  it  can  be  supported  between  a  couple  of  chairs.     If  the 
outlet  hole  is  made,  the  umbrella  can  be  supported  by  a  string 
tied  to  the  middle  of  a  short  stick,  the  stick  being  pushed  into  the 
hole  and  allowed  to  rest  on  the  lath  and  plaster  so  as  to  bridge  the 
hole  with  the  string  extending  down  and  through. 

207.  A  device  to  keep  chips  and  dirt  off  of  the  floor  and  out  of 
the  eyes  of  the  workman  boring  a  ceiling  can  be  made  as  shown 


A.     B.  C. 

Corks  before  Cork  No.l 

Splitting.  Split. 

Grooved  for 
^1  Rubber  Band  c- »    g—n 


E.  BitShank     F. 

Cork  No.l  CorkNo.2 

Grooved  and  Groovedand 

Slotted.  Slotted. 

FIG.  94. — Parts  of  holder  for  dirt- 
catcher. 


Paper  Funnel 
Rubber  Bands- 


•    Cork  No  I. 
Verf-ical  Split  in  Cork 
--Cork  No.  2. 


FIG,  95. — Dirt-catching  device 
assembled. 


in  Figs.  94  and  95.  When  completed  it  is  attached  to  the  bit 
shank  as  shown.  It  catches  all  the  debris  which  falls  while  the 
hole  is  being  bored.  To  construct  the  device,  cut  a  funnel-shaped 
cavity  in  the  end  of  one  cork  as  in  A  of  Fig.  94  and  cut  the  end  of 
the  other  cork  cone-shaped  as  B.  Split  each  cork  carefully  down 
the  center,  C  and  D.  Cut  a  groove  lengthwise  down  the  center  of 
the  flat  side  of  the  split  corks  E  and  F  so  that  the  pieces  when  put 
together  will  clamp  around  the  shank  of  the  bit,  and  make  another 
groove  around  the  curved  surface  of  the  corks  for  rubber  bands 
which  will  hold  the  pieces  together  around  the  bit  shank. 

A  i/2-in.  hole  is  then  cut  in  the  center  of  a  circular  piece  of  card- 
board, about  1 2  in.  in  diameter,  and  the  cardboard  is  slitted  along 
the  straight  line  shown  in  G.  Edge  a  is  then  drawn  over  edge  b 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  159 

until  a  funnel  is  formed  having  about  the  same  angle  as  the 
funnel-shaped  cavity  cut  in  the  cork  A  .  The  cardboard  funnel  is 
slipped  over  the  shank  of  the  bit  so  that  the  cutting  end  of  the 
bit  will  project  through  the  inside  of  the  funnel.  A  support  for 
the  funnel  is  formed  by  clamping  the  cork  having  the  funnel- 
shaped  cavity  in  its  end  around  the  bit,  on  the  outside  of  the 
cardboard  funnel.  Inside,  the  cork  with  the  cone-shaped  end  is 
similarly  attached.  The  assembled  device  is  shown  in  the 
illustration. 

207a.  A  cone-shaped  reflector  or  shade  can  be  used  as  a 
dirt  catcher.  The  small  end  of  such  a  metal  shade  or  reflector 
can  be  slipped  over  the  chuck  of  a  bit  brace  and  securely  taped 
there.  The  dirt  falling  from  a  hole  being  bored  can  be  collected 
in  the  shade  in  the  same  manner  as  it  is  collected  in  the  cardboard 
funnel  described  in  the  preceding  paragraph. 

REMOVAL  OF  FLOOR  BOARDS  AND  THE  MAKING  OF  POCKETS 

208.  Chisels  for  removing  floor  boards  are  shown  in  Fig.  96. 
They  are  forged  from  hexagonal  steel  bar  and  are  not  ordinarily 
obtainable  on  the  market.  Wide-bladed  carpenter's  wood  chisels 


/Hexagonal  Steel  Bars 


FIG.  96.  —  Chisels  for  removing  floor  boards. 

can  be  used  but  sometimes  they  are  too  highly  tempered  for  rough 
work.  Any  blacksmith  can  forge  the  chisels  shown  in  the  illus- 
tration. Both  of  the  sizes  shown  should  be  in  the  tool  kit  because 
usually  two  chisels  are  necessary  for  removing  floor  boards.  The 
short  chisel  is  6  in.  long  and  the  other  13  in.  which  is  a  convenient 
length,  although  they  are  sometimes  made  as  long  as  24  in. 

209.  A  floor  saw  for  removing  floor  boards  is  shown  in  Fig.  97. 
The  point  should  not  be  wider  than  1/4  in.  so  that  a  saw  cut  can  be 
started  from  a  small  hole.  The  blade  should  not  be  longer  than 
8  in.  If  it  is  longer  there  is  a  possibility  of  its  being  pushed  through 


160  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

a  plaster  ceiling  when  sawing  a  board  of  the  floor  above.  The 
blade  of  the  saw  should  be  thin  so  that  when  a  cut  is  made  with  it  a 
minimum  amount  of  wood  will  be  removed.  Furthermore,  the 
teeth  should  be  fine  to  insure  a  smooth  cut.  A  thin-bladed,  fine- 
tooth  saw  is  necessary,  particularly  with  hard  wood,  for  neat 
work. 

209a.  A  Flooring  Saw  for  Finished-building  Wiremen.  The 
usual  procedure  in  making  a  pocket  in  a  wooden  floor  is  to  first 
bore  a  hole  through  the  floor  boards  with  a  bit  or  to  punch  a  hole 
with  a  small  chisel.  Then  from  this  hole  a  cut  is  made  with  a 
key-hole  saw.  This  method  is  entirely  satisfactory  for  ordinary 
work,  but  where  the  floor  is  of  hardwood,  or  finely  finished,  the 
hole  from  which  the  cut  was  started,  and  the  wide  slot  made  by 
the  relatively  thick  key-hole  saw  blade  that  is  ordinarily  used, 
leaves  a  blemish  that  is  usually  very  conspicuous.  A  special 

Reversible  and 

Double  Edge  Adjustable  Handle 

Blade.. 

t  Blade  of  Saw  should  be  very  thin 

4" 

•;  Width of 'Point 

FIG.  97. — Floor  saw.  FIG.  gjA. — Special  flooring  saw  for 

finished -building  wiremen. 

flooring  saw  is  manufactured  with  which  finished-building  wire- 
men  should  be  familiar.  It  is  shown  in  Fig.  97^.  The  feature  of 
the  tool  is  that  the  back  edge  of  the  blade  is  rounded  and  has 
teeth  cut  in  it.  These  teeth  are  for  the  purpose  of  starting  a 
saw  cut  without  the  use  of  an  auger,  compass-saw  or  chisel. 

The  cut  is  started  as  shown  in  Fig.  97-5,  and  the  sawing  action 
is  continued  with  the  tool  held  as  shown  at  /  until  the  flooring  is 
cut  entirely  through,  for  a  distance  of  possibly  4  or  5  in.  Then 
the  saw  is  reversed  and  the  cutting  is  continued  with  the  straight 
edge  of  the  saw,  to  the  width  desired,  as  shown  at  II.  The  handle 
of  the  saw  is  reversible  and  adjustable,  that  is,  it  can  be  removed 
and  turned  around  so  that  either  edge  of  the  saw  can  be  used  to 
the  greatest  advantage,  or  it  can  be  rotated  around  a  pivot  to 
any  reasonable  position  and  there  clamped.  This  feature  per- 
mits each  workman  to  adjust  the  relation  between  the  saw  and  the 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


161 


handle  to  the  position  most  desirable  for  him,  and  also  allows  the 
tool  to  be  used  in  difficult  and  cramped  positions.  The  ball  and 
ratchet  that  holds  the  handle  to  the  blade  is  so  designed  that  the 
handle  can  be  adjusted  and  clamped  in  any  desired  position 
almost  instantaneously. 


Saw 

Reversed 


'Ceiling  Ceiling-* 

I  Start-ing  the  Cut  I.  Finishing  the  Cut. 

FIG.  gjB. — Manipulation  of  the  special  flooring  saw. 

210.  The  first  operation  in  removing  floor  boards  is  with  a 
chisel.  Before  making  saw-cuts  across  the  floor  boards  to  be 
removed,  a  chisel  is  driven  through  the  floor  board  at  its  edge 
and  close  to  a  joist.  Such  a  point  is  located  by  sounding  along 
the  board  with  a  hammer.  Fig.  98  illustrates  the  method.  Some 


tf6"ch/sel 


y.-  Floor 

\ 

<.--••  Joists  >? 

I 

} 

1--? 


FIG.  98. — Method  of  starting  cut 
with  chisel. 


FIG.  99. — Chisel  for  cutting  starting 
hole. 


workmen  begin  by  boring  a  hole,  but  this  is  not  advisable.  A 
5/i6-in.  carpenter's  wood  chisel  can  be  used  to  make  the  start- 
ing hole,  but  a  better  tool  is  shown  in  Fig.  99.  This  is  a  small 
chisel  from  a  pocket  tool-holder  outfit  and  was  designed  for  use 
in  a  handle  with  chuck  jaws,  but  it  is  an  admirable  tool  for 
starting  saw-cuts  because  the  blade  is  very  thin.  In  use,  the  chisel 
11 


162 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


is  held  in  the  proper  location  and  tapped  with  a  hammer  until  it 
pierces  the  floor.  It  is  then  withdrawn  and  the  cut  is  continued 
across  the  board,  as  shown  in  Fig.  100,  with  a  keyhole  saw. 
(See  Fig.  97.)  With  soft-wood  floors,  a  small  screw  driver  can 
be  driven  through  to  make  a  starting  hole  in  lieu  of  a  chisel.  In 


M 


i                                                                                                          i    i//Y/ae?/  noie 
_  !_]. f  |_| I   _|v^ 


I  Chisel  Hole 


}\ 

Floor  Boards  --.  1    !                                          f  Cut  made  with  f 
\   !-{..  >                                        [  Key  hole  Saw  jr-B 

7  \ 
f  \ 

r              5n  ^                H  i~            / 
i               # 

!                               i 

•Board  to  be 
Taken  up 


Plan     View. 
FIG.  100.  —  Saw-cut  across  floor  board. 


Section 
through  Cot. 


first-class  work  where  a  thin-bladed  chisel  was  used  it  is  practi- 
cally impossible  to  find  the  starting  hole  after  the  installation 
had  been  completed. 

211.  Taking  up  Soft-wood  Flooring.  After  saw-cuts  have  been 
made  across  both  ends  of  a  floor  board  a  chisel  (about  i  i/2-in. 
blade)  is  driven  through  near  one  end,  as  shown  at  A  in  Fig.  101, 


Boardlobe 

Removed* 


'Floor 


\ 

> 


Joist 


S 


Joist 


-A-  -B- 

FIG.  10  1.  —  Method  of  removing  floor  board. 

and  a  prying  movement  will  start  the  board.  Then  a  chisel,  hav- 
ing a  width  of  4  in.  so  as  not  to  crush  the  adjoining  board,  is 
driven  in  as  shown  in  Fig.  101  at  intervals  along  the  board  and  the 
edge  of  the  board  pried  loose  from  the  floor  at  each  insertion. 
Often  by  driving  in  the  chisel  as  at  A  and  then  giving  the  ad- 
jacent board  C  a  few  smart  blows  with  a  hammer  the  lower 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


163 


projection  forming  the  groove  will  crack  off  for  the  entire  length 
of  the  board  so  that  it  can  readily  be  taken  up.  It  is  always  good 
practice  to  break  off  the  lower  projection  of  the  groove,  Fig.  101. 
When  the  board  finally  comes  up  it  appears  as  shown  at  B. 

The  groove  side  of  the  entire  length  of  the  board  should  be 
raised  before  the  tongue  side  is  raised.  If  the  tongue  side  of  the 
board  is  raised  first  the  upper  part  of  the  groove  that  projects 
from  the  adjacent  board  may  be  broken  off.  The  nails  are 
always  driven  through  the  tongue.  A  chisel  can  be  inserted  at 
each  beam,  under  the  board  at  the  tongue  side.  By  pyring  on  the 
chisel  the  nails  through  the  tongue  can  be  loosened  or  withdrawn. 

Some  wiremen  cut  off  the  tongues  of  boards  that  are  to  be 
removed  with  a  saw  so  that  the  boards  can  be  lifted  directly 


-••Scraper- 

M^y 


..Joists—,, 

* 


i^^SM'^W//^^ 

^=^ 

Joist . 


^-Ceiling — ' 

Side  Elevation.  Lnd  Elevation. 

FIG.  102. — Cutting  floor  board  tongues  with  scraper. 

out  with  practically  no  prying.  It  is  better,  however,  to  split 
off  the  lower  portion  of  each  groove,  because  this  method 
requires  less  time  and  gives  a  neater  appearance.  The  tongue 
projecting  under  each  half  groove  constitutes  a  stop,  and  the 
crack  above  soon  fills  with  fine  dirt,  making  it  uniform  in 
appearance  with  other  cracks  in  the  floor.  If  the  tongue  is 
sawed  off  the  fine  dirt  drops  through  and  an  open  crack  is  always 
visible. 

212.  Taking  up  Floor  Boards  with  an  Ordinary  Carpenter's 
Scraper  and  Hammer  (Fig.  102).  The  tongue  can  often  be  cut  the 
entire  length  on  both  sides  of  the  board  without  leaving  marks  on 
the  surface  of  the  floor.  The  cutting  should  extend  a  foot  be- 
yond the  point  where  the  board  is  to  be  taken  up.  The  board 
can  then  be  raised  and  cut  off  at  a  joist.  The  scraper  used  for 
this  purpose  is  strong  enough  even  to  cut  nails.  One  edge  should 


164  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

be  filed  or  ground  to  a  cutting  edge.  A  detail  is  shown  in  Fig. 
103.  With  this  method  the  tongue  is,  of  course,  cut  off  of  the 
floor  board,  which  condition  has  the  disadvantage  referred  to  in 
the  preceding  paragraph. 

213.  In  removing  floor  boards  by  sawing  off  the  tongue  the 
procedure  is  as  follows:  First  a  slot  must  be  made  in  the  seam 
between  flooring  boards  of  sufficient  size  to  enable  the  floor-saw 
blade  (Fig.  97)  to  be  inserted.  This  is  best  done  with  a  sharp, 
narrow  chisel  having  a  5/8-in.  blade.  Then  the  saw  blade  is 
inserted,  and  the  tongue  at  the  junction  of  the  flooring  boards  is 

k 5" ->I          sawed  off  the  full  length  of  board 

-j p|    to  be  removed.      The  wireman 

can  tell  when  he  reaches  the 
joist  at  which  he  wishes  to  end 
his  cut.  At  this  point  the  chisel 
blade  is  placed  with  the  flat 
part  across  the  board  at  edge  of 


Carpenter's 
Scraper 


6r° to  a  Cubing  Edge-;    the  joist,  and  another  small  slot 
FIG.  103.— Detail  of  reconstructed    made.     Then  the  board  is  sawed 
scraper.  ofj  even  with  the  joist,  and  can 

be  easily  removed  with  a  floor  chisel  (Fig.  96). 

214.  Taking  up  Finely  Finished  Tongue-and-groove  Flooring. 
As  such  a  floor  is  very  difficult  to  take  up  without  disfigurement,  a 
skilful  carpenter  should,  ordinarily,  be  employed  to  do  the  work. 
Where  a  floor  composed  of  hardwood  strips  about  1/4  in.  thick 
nailed  to  a  soft-wood  base,  or  a  parquet  floor  over  a  soft-wood 
base,  is  encountered,  wiremen  sometimes  have  removed  the  hard- 
wood pieces  and  replaced  them  without  damage.     If  a  wide 
chisel  is  inserted  at  the  end  of  a  hardwood  floor  strip  it  is  often 
possible  to  raise  the  entire  strip,  as  the  brads  used  in  securing 
the  strips  are  small  and  have  little  holding  power  in  soft  wood. 

215.  Making  a  Pocket  into  the  Space  in  a  Partition.    After  a 
small  hole  has  been  cut  in  the  partition  at  the  point  where  the 
fixture  outlet  is  to  be  located  and  a  "mouse"  dropped  down 
through  the  hole  to  the  floor  to  insure  that  there  are  no  obstruc- 
tions within  the  partition,  a  pocket  is  made  by  removing  a  floor 
board.     The  pocket  is  located  adjacent  to  the  point  where  the 
wires  within  the  partition  are  to  pass  through  the  floor.     A 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


165 


Nails 


Cleats      .Wood  Screws 


floor 


floor-board  piece  is  cut  out,  as  shown  in  Fig.  104.  The  "quarter- 
round"  at  the  baseboard  is  removed  for  a  few  feet  and  one  saw- 
cut  is  made  through  the  floor  board  that  is  to  be  removed  close 
to  the  baseboard,  where  it  will  be  covered  by  the  "quarter-round." 
The  other  saw-cut  through  the 
floor  board  is  made  close  to  a 
joist  several  feet  from  the  parti- 
tion. 

After  the  floor  board  has  been 
removed  a  hole  is  chiseled  under 
the  partition,  through  which 
the  wires  are  drawn.  In  replac- 
ing the  removed  floor  board,  two 
cleats  are  used  to  support  it. 
The  cleat  at  the  end  of  the  board 
farthest  from  the  partition  is 
nailed  to  a  joist  as  hereinafter 
described.  The  cleat  at  the  end 


Sectional  Elevation. 
FIG.    104. — Method    of    running 
near  the  partiton  is  held  up  with  wires  from   floor  pocket  to  parti- 
n   _,,        ,  ,  j  .          .      tion  above, 

flathead  wood  screws  driven  in 

from  above.  Although  the  removed  floor  board  shown  in  Fig. 
104  extends  only  to  the  first  joist  away  from  the  partition,  it  is 
better  practice  so  to  cut  a  floor  board  that  it  will  bridge  several 
joists. 

216.  Length  of  Flooring  to  be  Removed.    In  taking  up  a 
length  of  flooring  the  first  step  is  to  determine  how  much  to  take 

n n       n-^-Ti       n       n 


1  j 

Ij-C/ear          \    \  Floor  Boards 

!  1 

1    1 

££:v/VCT/7s-:;jf  j  Correct 

n.         i: 

~1 

1   1 

~T 

rj                            I 

j          i} 

i       1 

1    1 

\~pCI  eats  -•&• 

• 

I           J 

.    1 
I     1 

j                             1           *     1- 

1          r 

1                   !   P           'N 

J 

u 

J            U        / 

Incorrect'' 

cr    TT 

Li 

FIG.  105. — Showing  how  to  make  floor  cuts. 

up.  It  is  always  best,  if  possible,  to  remove  the  entire  board. 
Where  it  can  be  done,  it  requires  but  little  or  no  more  time  than 
sawing  the  board  into  choppy  sections.  It  is  seldom  advisable 


166  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

to  remove  a  piece  as  short  as  the  distance  between  adjacent  floor 
joists,  after  the  manner  indicated  as  " incorrect"  in  Fig.  105. 
The  saw-cuts  at  the  ends  of  such  a  short  length  are  so  close  to- 
gether as  to  be  conspicuous,  and  the  piece,  after  replacement,  must 

depend  for  support  on  two  cleats 
f*£*ln*^  p|  nailed  to  the  joists,  which  may  or 

f-r — i4-  floor  . ',  _  .. 

[j_r   Boarct     may  not  provide  a  firm  founda- 


—Saw Cut 


•Joist* 


tion.     There  is  always  a  tendency 

which  was   ,  ,  . 

.4.+ J-PJ  raken  up   to   creak   or  rock.     It  .is  better, 

I   I  I       5 

\£/o/st  j  I  *      even  ^or  a  sma^  pocket,  to  make 

^  '^  the  saw-cuts  so   that  a  piece  of 

flooring    can    be    removed    long 

/Board  which  was 

-  taken  up  enough  to  span  at  least  three  and 
preferably  four  joists,  as  indicated 
under  "correct"  in  Fig.  105. 
The  intermediate  joists  will  effec- 


C/ecrttv 
3vpporr 
Board 


Ceiling  tivdy  support  the  middle  portion 

Sectional      Elevation.  Qf     ^        iece     ^^       has      been    re_ 

lie.  TOO. — Cleat  to  support  floor 

boards.  moved  and  prevent  creaking  and 

rocking. 

217.  Cleats  to  Support  Replaced  Floor  Boards.  Before  re- 
placing boards  removed  from  a  soft-wood  floor  cleats  are  nailed 
to  the  joists  at  the  ends  of  the  pocket,  as  shown  in  Fig.  106,  to 
support  the  floor-board  ends.  Each  cleat  is  possibly  4-in.  longer 
than  the  width  of  the  pocket  and  is  pushed  up  snugly  against  the 
edges  of  the  boards  at  the  sides  of  the  pocket  before  being  nailed 
to  the  joist.  Two  finishing  nails,  one  near  each  edge,  should  be 
driven  through  each  floor  board  at  each  joist.  The  use  of  two 
nails  in  each  joist  prevents  rocking  and  creaking  if  the  board 
happens  to  be  twisted  or  warped.  Where  there  is  any  possi- 
bility of  its  being  necessary  to  again  remove  the  floor  boards  after 
they  are  replaced,  screws  should  be  used  for  holding  them  down 
rather  than  nails. 

217a.  The  operations  in  cutting  a  small  pocket,  that  is,  one  the 
cover  boards  of  which  extend  only  between  two  adjacent  joists, 
are  shown  in  Fig.  io6A.  As  suggested  in  another  paragraph,  it  is 
always  preferable  to  so  cut  a  pocket  that  its  cover  boards  will 
bridge  at  least  three  joists.  Nevertheless,  pockets  are  frequently 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


167 


made  as  shown  in  Fig.  io6A.  At  /  is  shown  the  small  exploring 
bit  which  has  been  bored  up  through  the  ceiling  to  locate  the 
pocket.  Although  a  i/4-in.  diameter  bit  is  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion, a  much  smaller  one  (see  Par.  246)  should  be  used  where 
possible.  After  the  pocket  location  has  been  determined  the 
floor  boards  are  sawed  across.  Some  wiremen  slant  the  saw  as 
shown,  maintaining  that  when  it  is  guided  thus  the  slot  left  by 


Keyhole 
Saw 


Outlet Hole-, 


.Pocket 


Pocket  Cover  Boards 


'~2"x  12"  Joists-' 
\  Auger  Fixture  Board- 

7/77. 


•Lath  and  Plaster-'' 

Conductors -«-•*. 


Flexible 
Tubing 


I.  Locating  and  Cutting 
the  Pocket. 


E.  Cleats  and 
Fixture  Board  in  Place. 


UL  Pocket  Complete 
and  Wires  Run. 


FIG.  io6A. — Successive  operations  in  making  a  small  pocket. 

it  is  not  as  conspicuous  as  when  the  saw  blade  makes  a  vertical 
cut.  (See  Par.  218.)  After  the  cover  boards  are  out  of  the  way 
the  cleats  are  nailed  to  the  joists  and  the  fixture  board,  into  which 
the  supporting  screws  of  the  fixture  that  is  to  hang  in  the  room 
below  are  to  turn,  is  nailed  in  place  as  shown  at  //.  In  ///  the 
completed  pocket  with  the  wiring  in  place  is  illustrated. 

218.  A  quick  method  of  cutting  a  small  pocket  is  shown  in 
Fig.  107.     It  is  not  a  good  method  and  should  not  be  used  except 

Surface  of  floor     ,.- Piece  Removed 


^—Plaster  Ceiling-- 

i.  n. 

With    Cleat. 


n. 

What  may  happen. 


Without  Cleat. 

FIG.  107. — Quick  methods  of  cutting  a  pocket. 

in  very  cheap  work  where  appearance  is  of  no  consequence.  The 
pocket  can  be  made  without  a  cleat,  as  shown  at  /,  by  making  two 
saw-cuts,  at  an  angle  of  45  degrees  with  the  surface  of  the  floor, 
across  one  or  two  floor  boards.  When  the  pieces  of  board  that 
were  removed  to  form  the  pocket  are  replaced  they  will  be  sup- 


168 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


ported  by  the  45-degree  extensions  on  the  boards  that  were  not 
taken  up.  The  pieces  that  were  removed  can  be  nailed  in  place. 
However,  these  pieces  will  drop  a  little  below  the  surface  of  the 
balance  of  the  floor,  as  shown  at  III,  because  of  the  wood  cut  out 
by  the  saw.  This  is  the  undesirable  feature  of  the  method.  This 
defect  can  be  corrected,  as  shown  at  II,  by  making  one  saw-cut 
at  90  degrees  along  the  side  of  a  joist  and  making  the  other  cut  at 
45  degrees.  A  cleat  is  nailed  to  the  joist  to  support  one  end  of 
the  piece.  The  piece  is  butted  against  the  45-degree  projection 
leaving  a  small  crack  at  the  go-degree  saw-cut.  It  is  then  nailed 
in  place. 

REMOVAL  AND  REPLACEMENT  OF  TRIM 

219.  To  avoid  splitting  the  timber  when  driving  a  nail  near  the 
edge  of  a  board,  cut  off  the  point  of  the  nail  with  side-cutting 
pliers.     Such  a  nail  will  punch  rather  than  wedge  its  way  through. 
It  may  be  driven  almost  on  the  edge  of  the  board  or  trim  without 
splitting  it. 

220.  Inexpensive  tools  for  removing  baseboards  (Fig.  108)  can 
be  made  of  an  old  blacksmith's  rasp  or  of  a  discarded  buggy- 
spring.   '  That  shown  is  made 
by  untempering  a  rasp,  flatten- 
ing the  file  points  and  drawing 
each  end  to  a  sharp  edge.    Two 
inches  from  one  end  the  rasp 
should  then  be  bent  at  right 


Top       View. 


Untempered 
Rasp 


FIG. 


14 
Side      View. 

108. — Tool   for   removing   base- 
boards. 


angles.  A  i-in.  offset  in  the 
middle  completes  the  tool. 
The  whole  should  measure 
about  14  in.  in  length.  A  simi- 
lar tool  can  be  made  of  a  heavy  buggy-spring  by  merely  draw- 
ing out  the  small  end  and  finishing  it  to  a  chisel  point.  A 
blacksmith  can  make  either  of  these  tools  for  25  cents. 

221.  Punch  the  nails  through  when  removing  trim.  If  an  effort 
is  made  to  remove  the  trim  by  pulling  the  nails  out  the  probabili- 
ties are  that  the  wood  will  be  split  and  that  the  trim  will  be 
damaged.  When  the  nails  are  punched  through  with  a  fine  nail 
set  prior  to  the  removal  of  the  trim  the  difficulties  outlined  above 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  169 

will  not  be  encountered.  When  trim  is  removed  with  the  nails 
in,  it  is  always  advisable  to  cut  them  off  as  shown  in  Fig.  109 
instead  of  driving  them  through. 

222.  Removing  Nails  from  Trim.  Before  replacing  finished  trim 
the  nails  left  in  it  should  be  cut  off  flush  with  the  back  of  the  trim, 
with  a  pair  of  pliers  or  a  cold  chisel  (Fig.  109),  or  should  be  broken 
off  with  a  hammer.  If  an  attempt  is  made  to  drive  them  out, 
they  will  almost  invariably  chip  out  slivers  of  the  trim,  as  indicated 
in  Fig.  no.  New  finishing  nails  of  small  diameter  should  be 
used  for  refastening  the  trim.  See  also  Par.  219  regarding  nails 
for  fastening  trim. 


Wood Breaking  out^ 

Face  of  Trim-,  ,•'   \,-' Head  of  Nail 

\  /  A 


HI 

FIG.  109. — Cutting  off  nail  with  cold         FIG.  no. — Sliver  split  out  of 
chisel.  trim  by  driving  out  nail. 

CUTTING  OUTLET  HOLES 

223.  Cutting  Outlet  Holes  in  Plastered  Surfaces.    Before  cut- 
ting a  large  hole  for  an  outlet  box,  switch,  or  fixture,  the  wireman 
should  always  assure  himself  that  the  wires  can  be  brought  to  the 
outlet.     He  should  first  prepare  the  wire  route  to  the  outlet  lo- 
cation and  then  cut  the  hole.     Sometimes  it  is  necessary  to  bore 
a  small  "exploring  hole"  through  which  a  mouse  can  be  inserted, 
at  the  point  where  the  outlet  is  desired,  before  the  outlet  hole  is 
cut.     The  mouse  can  be  dropped  down  within  the  partition  to 
ascertain  if  the  contemplated  route  is  clear  of  obstructions.     This 
done,  the  wireman  should  locate  the  laths  in  the  vicinity  by  prob- 
ing with  an  awl  or  a  very  fine  finishing  nail.     He  can  then  so  cut 
the  hole  that  the  screws  supporting  the  outlet  or  switch  box, 
plate  or  fixture  will  each  engage  a  lath,  and  so  that  the  hole 
through  the  surface  will  be  no  larger  than  necessary. 

224.  Cutting  Holes  for  Switch  Boxes  in  Plastered  Surfaces. 
The  face  plates  of  switches  are  only  1/4  in.  to  3/8  in.  larger  than  the 
hole  that  must  be  cut  for  the  box.     Very  careful  work  is  necessary, 


170  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

therefore,  to  insure  that,  after  the  job  is  completed,  the  hole  will 
not  show  at  the  top  or  sides  of  the  face  plate.  Using  a  small 
screw-driver  or  an  awl  as  a  feeler,  the  wireman  should  first  locate 
an  opening  between  two  laths.  A  hole  of  the  proper  size  for  the 
switch  should  then  be  cut  in  the  plaster  with  the  point  of  a 
screw-driver.  The  hole  must  be  so  cut  in  relation  to  the  laths 
that  the  screws  that  support  the  box  will  engage  the  laths.  A 
keyhole  saw  should  be  employed  to  cut  out  the  laths.  Before  the 
sawing  is  begun  the  workman  should  probe  in  between  the  laths 
with  his  screw-driver  or  a  probing  tool  to  be  sure  there  are  no 
pipes  or  other  obstructions  to  interfere  with  the  work. 

225.  Cutting  Holes  for  Round  Outlet  Boxes  in  Plastered  Sur- 
faces.    First,  probe  through  the  plaster  to  locate  the  laths  as 
suggested  in  the  preceding  paragraphs.     Then  outline  the  space 
to  be  cut  by  placing  the  outlet  box  against  the  surface  and  drawing 
a  line  around  its  circumference.     Instead  of  using  a  pencil  the  line 
can  be  drawn  with  a  sharp-pointed  tool  or  with  the  edge  of  a 
small  piece  of  tin.     The  box  should  be  so  located,  when  the  line 
is  drawn,  that  it  lies  in  correct  relation  to  the  laths.     Now  care- 
fully cut  away  the  plaster  within  this  space  with  a  wood  chisel. 
The  recess  should  allow  an  outlet  box,  having  a  standard  depth  of 
7/8  in.,  to  rest  against  the  lath.     The  lath  crossing  the  center  of 
the  outlet  hole  should  be  cut  away  the  full  width  of  the  hole  to 
provide  for  the  admission  of  the  conductors.     The  outlet  box  is 
shown  in  Fig.  44. 

226.  When  sawing  out  a  lath  at  an  outlet  hole  it  is  best  not  to 
saw  entirely  across  the  lath  at  once.     The  lath  may  terminate 
on  an  adjacent  stud,  in  which  case  if  it  is  attempted  to  make  the 
second  saw-cut,  the  first  one  having  been  made,  entirely  across  the 
lath,  it  is  probable  that  the  short  length  of  lath  will  break  out 
the  plaster.     Each  cut  should  be  made  about  two-thirds  of  the 
way  through  the  lath  and  then  each  of  the  two  cuts  should  be 
sawed  alternately — a  little  at  a  time — until  the  lath  is  severed 
at  both  cuts. 

BORING  AND  BORING  TOOLS 

227.  Boring  Plaster  of  Paris  Canopies  and  Molding.    It  is 

frequently  necessary  to  cut  holes  through  these  canopies,  which 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


171 


are  found  in  the  older  houses,  for  the  accommodation  of  loom.  A 
Syracuse  twist  drill  is  the  best  tool  for  the  purpose.  It  may  be 
used  in  a  bit  brace  and  will  quickly  cut  a  smooth  round  hole. 
Such  a  hole  should  be  bored  upwardly  into  the  ceiling.  If  it  is 
bored  from  the  interior  of  the  ceiling  downwardly,  plaster  will 
probably  chip  off  around  the  hole.  The  drill  should  be  very  sharp 
and  little  pressure  should  be  used  in  its  operation.  Where  a 
rounded  surface  is  to  be  bored  into,  a  flat  area  should  first  be  cut 
with  a  knife  to  provide  a  starting  place. 


v'F/oo. 


Short      .jy 

Bit  ,,.-;-? 


Bit 


-.?j  Brace 

'- 


Plaster-*  x  Jo/sfs. 

FIG.  in. — Boring  holes  in  joints. 

228.  In  boring  holes  in  joists  after  floor  boards  have  been 
removed  it  is  a  good  plan  to  use  a  bit  with  a  long  shank  or  bit 
extension.  Where  this  is  done  the  tubes  that  are  inserted  in  the 
holes  to  insulate  the  wires  will  lie  more  nearly  parallel  to  the 
surface  of  the  floor,  the  conductors  will  draw  through  them  more 
easily,  and  abrasion  of  the  insulation  on  the  wires  will  be  mini- 
mized. Fig.  in  illustrates  this.  Where  a  short  bit  is  used  as  at 


Chuck'  \5 'el-  Screw 

FIG.  112. — Extension  bit  holder. 

A  the  hole  lies  at  a  considerable  angle  with  the  floor,  while  at  B, 
where  a  long  bit  is  used,  the  hole  is  more  nearly  parallel  with  the 
floor.  Instead  of  using  a  long  bit,  a  short  bit  in  an  extension  like 
that  of  Fig.  112  can  be  utilized. 

229.  A  tool  useful  in  boring  holes  from  outlets  and  pockets  for 
risers  in  closed  or  blocked  partitions  and  handy  for  other  purposes 
is  illustrated  in  Fig.  113.  It  is  made  of  a  door  knob  and  a  5/8-in. 
Irwin  bit.  The  shank  is  cut  off  the  bit  and  fitted  into  the  stem 


172 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


of  the  door  knob.  A  hole  is  then  drilled  through  the  shank  of  the 
bit  as  illustrated  and  a  nail  inserted  and  headed  over  to  prevent 

the  bit  from  turning.     It  is  a  good 
plan  to  fill  the  knob  with  solder. 

229a.  Ratchet  Drills  for  Bor- 
ing Floor  and  Ceiling  Plates.  An 
application  of  the  ratchet  drill  is 
shown  in  Fig.  113^.  where  a  hole 
is  being  bored  for  a  conductor 
way  from  a  pocket  up  through 
a  floor  plate  into  a  partition. 
The .  drill  is  similar  to  that  used 
by  steel  workers  and  track  men 

for  drilling  metal.     For  finished- 
FIG.  113, — Tool  for  boring  in  outlets  i     -u-  •  •          ,1  n 

and  pockets.  building    wiring    the    smallest, 

lightest  tool  obtainable  will  be 

satisfactory.  The  bit  is  placed  in  the  chuck  of  the  tool  and  the 
feed-screw  end  rests  against  a  floor  plate,  if  one  is  available,  or 
against  a  long  board  lying,  parallel  to  the  joists,  on  the  laths. 


Hole  being 
Bored  for 
Conductor 


Solder 
orLead 


'Lath  and 
Plaster 


•2x4"  Studs- 

FIG.  113^. — Application  of  the  ratchet  drill  for  boring  a  floor   plate. 

If  the  board  is  long  the  pressure  due  to  the  drill  will  be  dis- 
tributed over  a  considerable  area  and  no  damage  to  the  ceiling 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


173 


will  result.  Furthermore,  the  screw  at  the  end  of  the  bit  assists 
in  feeding  it  so  that  relatively  little  pressure  from  the  feed  screw 
of  the  ratchet  drill  is  necessary.  A  hole  can  be  bored  in  a  very 

for  Drill --,„ 

Adapter  Socket  for  "x 

Bit  Stock 
Drills- 


Aftic 


Handle 

I 

< Feeding  Screw 

FIG.  1135.— Ratchet  drills. 

contracted  space  with  the  ratchet  drill.     Fig.  n$B  shows  two 
commercial  forms  of  the  tool. 

230.  Construction  and  Application  of  the  Pipe-extension  Bor- 
ing Tool.  Where  there  are  bridges 
or  other  obstructions  within  a  par- 
tition and  the  top  of  the  partition 
— the  header — is  accessible  from 
an  attic  or  from  a  pocket  formed 
by  removing  floor  boards,  the 
method  and  tools  illustrated  in 
Figs.  114  and  115  can  be  used. 
The  pipe-extension  boring  tool 
consists  of  a  (Fig.  115)  length  of 
conduit,  threaded  on  one  end,  into 
which  a  bit  extension  has  been  se- 
cured or  to  which  a  chuck  that 
will  accommodate  an  ordinary  bit 
brace  has  been  fastened  by  some 
means.  Several  lengths  of  con-  £ 
duit,  threaded  on  both  ends  and 
fitted  with  couplings,  should  be 
provided.  The  lengths  of  these 
extension  pieces  are  determined  FlG- 
by  the  conditions  under  which 
they  are  to  be  used.  Where  they  will  be  used  in  a  space  having 
little  head  room  they  must  be  short.  Where  there  is  ample 


Plate 


—  Ceiling  Plate 
"  ~  V  Con  duit  with 
Chuck  attached 


use  of  pipe- 
tool. 


174  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

head  room   they   can  be  long.     Probably  4  ft.  is  a  fair  length 
for  both  the  chuck-piece  and  the  extension  pieces. 

One  method  of  securing  a  bit  extension  into  the  conduit  is 
shown  in  Fig.  115.  The  shank  of  the  extension  is  flattened  as  at 
A  and  then  inserted  in  the  conduit  which  in  turn  is  flattened  as  in 
B.  Bit  extensions  (Fig.  112)  can  be  purchased  at  hardware 

•^"Conduit 


A. Extension  Piece* 
^'Conduit  St'd  Pipe'Thread 


C.  Bit   Extension. 


'•Conduit  Flattened  to  Grip  Shank 
B.  Chuck  Piece. 
FIG.  115. — Chuck  end  of  pipe-extension  boring  tool  and  detail  of  bit  extension. 

stores,  but  they  can  be  made  by  straightening  out  the  bent  por- 
tion of  an  old  brace  and  flattening  its  end. 

231.  Another  type  of  pipe-extension  boring  tool  is  illustrated  in 
Fig.  1 1 6.  It  differs  from  that  just  described  only  as  to  the  method 
whereby  the  bit  is  fastened  into  one  of  the  pipe  sections.  With 
the  tool  of  Fig.  115  a  bit  of  any  diameter  can  be  fastened  in  the 
chuck.  With  the  arrangement  of  Fig.  116  a  bit  of  a  certain  size 
is  fastened  in  a  pipe  section  and  there  must  be  such  a  pipe  sec- 

(  Pipe  Cap  with  Hole  2- inch  Bit 

\  in  Center  n/TV     ~" 


Method  of  Fastening 

Bit  in  Pipe.    '  WeldedlnPipe 

Details  of  Tool. 

FIG.  116. — Another  type  of  pipe-extension  boring  tool. 

tion,  equipped  with  its  own  bit,  for  each  diameter  of  hole  that  is 
to  be  bored. 

232.  A  pipe-extension  boring  tool  for  boring  through  joists 
under  a  floor  is  shown  in  Fig.  117.  It  is  a  modification  of  the 
boring  tool  described  in  preceding  paragraphs  and  is  constructed 
thus:  A  i-in.  or  i  i/4-in.  auger  bit  is  welded  in  the  end  of  a 
short  length  of  conduit  the  farther  end  of  which  is  threaded.  The 
tool  is  extended  to  the  desired  length  by  other  sections  of  conduit, 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  175 

each  from  8  to  10  in.  long,  threaded  at  both  ends,  and  connected 
with  one  another  by  a  standard  coupling.  When  a  more  con- 
venient method  is  not  available,  the  tool  may  be  turned  with  a 
pipe  wrench. 

233.  A  dowel  joint  for  the  pipe-extension  boring  tool,  often 
preferable  to  the  conduit  coupling  joint,  is  described  by  Fig. 
1 1 8.  A  dowel  of  i/4-in.  pipe  is  riveted  at  one  end  into  the  3/8- 
in.  pipe  used  for  the  tool.  The  other  end  of  the  dowel  is  fastened 

,  Bit  Shank  Welded  in  . 
/  Conduit 


Bit 
FIG.  117. — Another  type  of  pipe-extension  boring  tool. 

into  another  section  of  the  tool  with  a  flat- headed  machine  screw. 
The  hole  for  the  screw  is  tapped  through  one  wall  of  the  pipe  or 
conduit  and  unthreaded  through  the  other  wall.  This  method  has 
a  twofold  advantage  over  the  use  of  iron-pipe  couplings.  First, 
it  provides  no  possibility  of  the  pipe  lengths  being  twisted  apart 
regardless  of  the  direction  in  which  the  brace  of  the  boring  tool  is 
turned.  Secondly,  the  external  diameter  of  the  joint  or  coupling 
is  practically  equal  to  that  of  the  pipes  it  connects. 

Square  Shank  of  Bit 
Cutoff  and  Used  In  other 

End  of  Too)  ^      ,,  Screws^  Sejuan  Ends  of£° Pipe  Lengths 

V       Rivets.;\  Shank  \  \ 


%'PipeDowei:'  "  ....... _ 

*'•  Dowel  of %Pipe 
Detail  of  Dowel. 

FIG.  118. — Dowel  joint  for  pipe-extension  boring  tool. 

234.  Manipulation  of  the  pipe-extension  boring  tool  is  illus- 
trated in  Fig.  114.  The  bit,  usually  i  1/2  in.  or  2  in.  in  diameter, 
is  clamped  in  the  jaws  of  the  chuck-piece  and  is  started  into  the 
header  A  by  twisting  the  chuck-piece  by  hand.  As  soon  as  the 
bit  commences  to  "bite"  the  conduit  should  be  gripped  with 
a  pipe  wrench — or  a  bit  brace  can  be  used  if  the  pipe-extension 
tool  is  equipped  with. a  bit  brace  chuck.  The  tool  is  then  turned 
with  the  wrench  until  the  bit  cuts  through  the  header.  Next  it  is 


176  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

dropped  vertically  downward  through  the  hole  until  the  bit  en- 
gages a  bridge  or  other  obstruction  within  the  partition.  If 
necessary  to  make  the  tool  longer  to  reach  the  obstruction,  an 
extension  piece  of  conduit  is  screwed  to  the  end  of  the  chuck- 
piece.  The  bit  is  then  turned  with  the  pipe  wrench  or  bit  brace 
through  this  obstruction  and  when  it  is  through  is  dropped  to  the 
next  one,  an  extension  piece  of  conduit  being  added  if  necessary. 
This  process  is  repeated  until  an  unobstructed  vertical  runway 
is  provided  for  the  required  distance.  Wiremen  have  bored  run- 
ways with  this  tool  through  the  obstructions  in  the  partitions 
of  three  stories.  The  upper  hole  was  through  a  header  exposed  in 
the  attic  of  a  three-story  house  and  the  last  hole  was  through  the 
ceiling  of  the  basement.  Instead  of  using  a  pipe  wrench  for  turn- 
ing the  tool,  a  carpenter's  brace  can  be  utilized,  provided  one 
extension  section  of  conduit  for  the  tool  is  equipped  with  a  square 
bit  shank  as  shown  in  Fig.  118. 

235.  In  turning  the  pipe-extension  boring  tool  with  a  pipe 
wrench  a  wireman  and  his  helper  stand  facing  each  other  and 
with  the  vertical  conduit  piece  having  the  wrench  on  it  between 
them.     One  man  gives  the  tool  a  half  turn  by  pulling  the  wrench 
around  and  then  the  other  pulls  it  through  the  rest  of  the  revolu- 
tion.    This  is  continued  until  the  bit  emerges  from  the  cut. 
Both  hands  should  be  used  in  turning,  one  on  the  wrench  handle 
and  the  other  on  the  conduit  to  steady  it.     An  ordinary  bit  brace 
can  be  used  if  the  working  space  is  not  restricted. 

236.  Size  of  Holes  to  be  Bored  with  Pipe-extension  Boring  Tool. 
It  is  always  advisable  to  bore  a  i  i/2-in.  or  2-in.  hole  with  the 
tool,  because  bits  of  these  diameters  feed  more  effectively  than 
smaller  ones.     Furthermore,  a  relatively  large  hole  is  usually 
required  to  receive  the  several  loom-covered  conductors  that  are 
often   installed   as   a   single   group   within   a   partition.     Four 
No.   14  wires,  each  encased  in  flexible  tubing,  can  be  carried 
through  a  2-in.  diameter  hole. 

237.  An  extension -bit  holder,  Fig.  112,  is  a  very  convenient  tool 
for  the  finished-building  wireman.     It  is  used  in  a  bit  brace  for 
boring  holes  in  joists.     The  holder  is  2  to  3  ft.  long,  and  enables 
wiremen  to  bore  holes  in  a  recess,  or  in  places  where  a  long  bit 
would  be  needed.     By  coupling  two  of  the  holders,  the  wireman 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


111 


can  bore  circuit  holes  in  joist  while  standing,  which  renders  the 
work  much  easier,  where  there  are  a  number  to  be  drilled. 
237a.  A  home-made  extension-bit  holder  can  be  constructed 


Shank  of  Bit-,      Screw 


End  of  Pipe  forged  Down  to  a.  Square  Shank  •'' 
A.   Extension  Holder  and:  Bit. 

FIG.  u8^4. — Home-made  extension-bit  holder. 


Detail  of 

Clompiqg 

Arrangement. 


Floor- 


from  a  length  of  standard  3/8-in.  wrought-iron  pipe  as  shown  in 

Fig.  n&4.     The  end  of  the  shank  bit  is  fitted  into  the  inside  of 

the  pipe.     (Standard  weight  3/8-in.  pipe  has  an  internal  diameter 

of  0.493  or  approximately  1/2  in.  and  an  external  diameter  of  0.675 

or  approximately  43/64  in.)     The 

shank  of  the  ordinary  bit  makes 

a  fairly  good  fit  in  the  end  of  the 

pipe.     A  hole,  possibly  1/4  in.  in 

diameter,  is  then  bored  through 

the  pipe  and  the  bit.     Then  the 

bit  is  removed  and  the  hole  in  it 

is  tapped  for  a  standard  machine 

screw.     The  holes  in  the  sides  of 

the  pipe  are  reamed  out  with  an 

old  file  so  that  the  machine  screw 

will    pass    through    them.    The 

other  end  of  the  pipe  is  forged 

down  solid  and   into  a   square 

shank  so  that  the  chuck  of  an 

•••  i.,    i  M1  FIG.  1 1  SB. — Boring  through  brider- 

ordinary  bit  brace  will  engage  ing  with  a  home-made  extension-bit 
it.  In  use,  the  bit  is  placed  in  holder.  (Illustration  shows  interior 
,  i  ,  .  .  of  a  partition,  the  lath  and  plaster  of 

the  pipe  and  machine  screw  is  one  side  having  been  removed,  expos- 
inserted  to  prevent  the  bit  from  inS  the  lath  and  plaster  of  the  other 
turning.  An  extension  thus  con- 
structed from  3/8-in.  pipe  is  often  preferable  to  the  commercial 
extension  of  Fig.  112,  because  the  pipe  will  pass  through  a  smaller 
hole  than  will  the  chuck  (which  is  usually  about  7/8  in.  in  diam- 

12 


178 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


eter)  of  the  commercial  product.     Fig.    nSB   shows  an  appli- 
cation of  the  tool. 

238.  The  necessity  of  fishing  wires  through  the  holes  bored  by 
the  pipe-extension  boring  tool  can  be  avoided  where  it  is  possible 
for  the  wireman's  helper  to  reach  the  point  of  the  bit  after  it  has 
penetrated  the  obstruction.     Where  the  point  can  be  reached,  a 
pulling-in  line  should  be  attached  to  the  bit  before  the  hole  is 
bored  by  tying  it  above  the  spiral  formation  at  the  tip  of  the 
bit.     The  cord  should  be  wound  around  the  bit  imbedded  in 
the  spiral  groove  in  such  a  way  that  it  will  not  be  severed  during 
the  manipulation  of  the  tool.     When  the  screw  point  of  the  bit 
becomes  accessible  to  the  helper  below  he  should  detach  the  line 
and  hold  it  while  the  wireman  above  withdraws  the  boring  tool. 
The  conductors  may  be  attached  to  this  line  and  drawn  to  the 
desired  outlet. 

239.  The  steel  fish  bit  (Fig.  119)  is  a  useful  tool.    The  bit 
has  a  hole  in  its  end.    After  the  bit  has  been  bored  through  an 


Stud- 

Pfl 

S: 

-L. 

1 

»/7 

i 

Ss>   rfr== 

=: 

:--!: 

to/e          L-1^ 

c 

/>?  £//• 

i: 

_,-* 

i 

--  Lath  and  Plaster--- 

i 

Bit  through  Stud  Wire  in  Bit  Hole.  Wire  Being  Drawn -througn. 

FIG.  119. — The  steel  fish  bit  and  its  application. 

orifice,  the  wire  to  be  drawn  through  is  made  up  through  the  hole 
and  the  wire  and  bit  are  together  drawn  back  through  the  orifice. 
The  use  of  a  snake  is  thereby  eliminated.  In  a  floor  or  ceiling, 
the  orifice  having  been  bored,  it  may  be  more  convenient  to  first 
withdraw  the  bit  and  then  to  thread  the  wire  through  the  hole  at 
the  end  of  the  bit,  and  to  push  the  bit  back  through  the  hole. 
Good  bits  of  this  type  are  so  tempered  that  they  will  driU  through 
wood,  masonry,  wrought  iron  or  structural  steel. 

EXPLORING    LAMPS   AND    DEVICES    AND    THEIR  APPLICATION 

240.  Illumination  and  Exploring  of  Partition   Interiors  while 

Fishing.    A  miniature  incandescent  lamp  can  be  used.     A  pair  of 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


179 


dry  batteries  bound  together  by  tape  (Fig.  120),  a  lamp  small 
enough  to  pass  through  an  n/i6-in.  hole,  and  about  20  ft. 
of  flexible  conductor  (preferably  duplex)  complete  the  outfit. 
Such  a  lamp  when  dropped  into  the  interior  of  a  partition  is  safer 
and  far  more  convenient  than  the  lighted  candle,  sometimes  used. 
Not  only  are  exploring  lamps  useful  when  fishing  but  they  are 
effectively  utilized  when  boring  holes  through  remote  obstructions. 
The  lamp  can  be  lowered  into  a 
partition  through  a  bored  hole  and 
will  illuminate  the  entire  space. 

241.  Home-made  exploring 
lamps  are  shown  in  Fig.  121. 
The  device  at  A  is  a  tubular  incan- 
descent lamp  soldered  to  the  end 
of  a  length  of  flexible  cord,  while 
the  one  at  B  is  merely  a  candle 
attached  to  a  length  of  copper 


Flexible  Conductor 
(Preferably  Duplex) 
about'  20  'long. 


Tape     ', 
Binding 


FIG.  120. — Battery  and  lamp  set  for 
illuminating  partition  interiors. 


I  Extension 


Flexible 
Lamp  Chord 


Conductors 
!    Soldered 

to  Base 


Tubular 
Incandescent 
Lamp 


-Bare  Copper 
Wire,  about 
No.IZB.S-S. 


\ 


Candle 


A.  B. 

FIG.  121.  —  Exploring  lamps. 


wire.  Obviously  the  form  shown  at  A  is  useful  only  in  houses 
where  a  source  of  electrical  energy  is  available.  Candles  should 
not  be  used  except  in  cases  of  emergency  because  they  have 
been  known  to  start  fires  in  partition  interiors.  Electric  lamps 
are  much  preferable  from  every  standpoint. 

242.  An  application  of  an  exploring  lamp  in  fishing  is  shown  in 
Fig.  122.  It  shows  how  a  drawing-in  line  can  be  pulled  from  the 
basement  of  a  one-story  frame  building  to  the  attic.  A  slanting 
hole  A  is  bored  from  the  basement,  through  the  floor  and  plate 
into  the  space  within  the  outer  wall.  A  soft-iron  or  copper  wire 


180 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


To  Battery  or  Lamp  Socket- 
Attic 


Lap 
Siding- 


Sheath- 
t'ng-. 


FIG.  122. — Exploring  lamp  used 
to  facilitate  fishing. 


having  a  loop  formed  in  its  end 
is  then  pushed  through  the  hole 
~i  and  into  the  space.  A  strong  cord 
j  — heavy  linen  fish-line  is  the  best — • 
which  has  a  hook  bent  from  stiff 
iron  wire  tied  to  its  lower  end  is 
let  down  from  the  attic  into  the 
space.  An  exploring  lamp  fed 
either  by  dry  batteries  or  from  an 
extension  lamp  socket  is  also  let 
down  into  the  space.  This  lamp 
will  provide  illumination  whereby 
the  hook  can  be  engaged  in  the 
loop.  After  the  engagement  is  ef- 
fected the  circular-loom-encased 
or  metallic  flexible  conductors  can 
be  drawn  from  the  basement  to 
the  attic. 

243.  Methods  of  exploring  wir- 
ing spaces  under  floors,  involv- 
ing the  use  of  a  mirror  and  a 
light  source,  are  illustrated  in  Figs. 


FIG.  123. — Exploring  wiring  space  with  flash  lamp  and  mirror. 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


181 


1 23  and  1 24.  The  source  of  light  can  be  arranged  in  one  pocket 
and  the  mirror  at  the  other  or  both  mirror  and  light  source 
may  be  used  in  the  same  pocket.  Where  both  are  used  at  the 
same  pocket,  as  in  Fig.  123,  the  light  must  be  quite  strong  and  a 


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FIG.  124. — Exploring  wiring  space  with  candle  and  mirror. 

flash  lamp  or  an  electric  lamp  with  a  reflector  behind  it  is  usually 
necessary.  Where  the  light  is  in  one  pocket  and  the  mirror  at 
another  a  candle  will  give  fairly  good  results,  provided  the  dis- 
tance between  pockets  is  not  too  great,  but  an  electric  lamp  on  an 
extension  cord  is  better.  Where 
the  pockets  are  sufficiently  large 
that  the  wireman  can  get  his 
head  into  one  of  them  there  is  no 
necessity  for  the  mirror.  A  large 
pocket  is  shown  in  Fig.  123 
merely  to  provide  room  to  per- 
mit of  an  understandable  illustra- 
tion. Where  the  outlet  hole  in 
a  partition  is  sufficiently  large  to 
permit  of  the  insertion  of  a  mirror, 
obvious  modifications  of  the  above 
methods  can  be  used  for  exploring 
partitions. 

244.  Exploring  Partition  Interiors.  With  a  pocket  flash  lamp 
and  a  small  mirror  the  interior  of  a  wall  or  partition  which 
would,  ordinarily,  be  inaccessible  can  be  inspected  (Fig.  125). 


FIG. 


125 . — Examining    partition 
interior. 


182  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

The  mirror  is  introduced  in  the  outlet  hole  and  the  flash  lamp  and 
eye  are  held  behind  it  as  illustrated.  The  mirror  reflects  the 
light  of  the  lamp  onto  the  place  to  be  illuminated,  at  the  same 
time  reflecting  the  image  back  to  the  eye. 

245.  Electric  Exploring  Lamps.  The  lamps  should  be  small  so 
that  they  may  readily  be  inserted  through  holes  or  pockets.  A 
i  i/ 2- volt  battery  lamp  that  will  operate  from  two  or  three  dry 
cells  is  shown  in  Fig.  126  at  C.  It  requires  0.45  watt,  provides  a 

.No.lS  B.  &5.  Rubber 

'    Insula  fed  Stranded  Wife 


K- 

C.  Novelty 
B.  Candelabra.  Miniature. 

FIG.  126. — Incandescent  lamps  for  exploring. 

horizontal  candle  power  of  0.51  and  costsabout  25  or  30  cents.  A 
1 10- volt  (the  lamps  are  made  for  any  voltage  between  100  and 
130)  "  Candelabra"  lamp  is  shown  at  B.  It  takes  about  25  watts, 
provides  about  7  horizontal  candle  power  and  costs  25  or  30  cents. 
Porcelain  weather-proof  sockets,  A,  can  be  purchased  for  about 
10  or  15  cents  to  accommodate  either  the  candelabra  or  the  minia- 
ture lamp  bases.  The  sockets  are  regularly  furnished  with  6  in. 
of  No.  1 8  B.  &  S.  stranded,  rubber-insulated  wire  to  which  flexible 

cord  of  any  desired  length  can  be 

Anneal  and  Bend  End 

nx*...^      soldered. 

S4      246.  An  effective  exploring  bit 


S^A-A,  Slfe   illustrated  in   Fig.    127.     The 

FIG.  127.— Exploring  bit.          to°l  win  bore  a  fine  hole  through 

floor,  wall  or  partition  and  is  es- 
pecially useful  in  locating  a  larger  hole  to  be  drilled  from  the  re- 
verse side  of  an  obstruction.  The  bit  is  a  piece  of  steel  wire  6  to 
8  in.  long.  One  end  is  filed  to  a  drill  point  similar  to  that  of  a 
brad-awl.  At  the  other  end  enough  wire  should  be  bent  back  and 
forth  to  form  a  shank  which  will  be  held  in  the  chuck  of  a  bit  brace. 
Umbrella  ribs  or  coppered  steel  wire  will  serve  the  purpose.  The 
bit  will  cut  rapidly  and,  if  sufficiently  thin  wire  is  used,  the  holes  left 
by  it  will  be  almost  invisible.  The  cutting  point  of  the  bit 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


183 


should  be  flared  as  shown  in  the  lower  drawing  of  the  illustration 
so  that  the  bit  will  clear  itself. 

247.  A  simple,  magnetic  locator  for  finished-house  wiring  com- 
prises a  pocket  compass  and  a  large,  magnetized  file.  Fig.  128 
illustrates  how  the  contrivance  locates  the  point  at  which  to 
bore  a  hole  through  a  floor  and  the  ceiling  underneath.  The  file 
should  be  strongly  magnetized.  It  is  then  driven  into  the  ceiling 
at  the  point  where  it  is  desired  to  drill  the  hole.  By  moving 


FIG.  128. — Magnetic  locator. 

the  compass  over  the  floor  above,  the  location  of  this  point  will  be 
obvious.  The  compass  needle  is  violently  agitated  when  moved 
directly  over  the  file. 

.       FISHING  AND  FISHING  DEVICES 

247a.  Animals  as  Assistants  in  Fishing.  In  certain  cases 
where  other  methods  were  not  feasible,  small  animals  have  been 
used  to  draw  pulling-in  lines  through  wireways.  Trained 
weasels  have  been  used  in  threading  underground  conduit  sub- 
ways. In  finished-building  wiring,  a  cat  can  often  be  made  to 
draw  a  cord  through  a  raceway  between  floor  and  ceiling  that  is 
so  obstructed  by  braces  and  bridges  that  it  cannot  be  readily 
fished  by  the  ordinary  means.  A  length  of  cord  is  tied  to  a 
harness  on  the  cat  or  to  the  animals  tail.  The  cat  is  then  placed 
in  one  end  of  the  wireway  and  that  end  darkened.  The  far  end 
of  the  wireway  is  illuminated — with  a  candle  if  necessary.  The  cat 


184 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


will  usually  walk  toward  and  out  of  the  illuminated  end  of  the 
wireway  bringing  the  pulling-in  cord  with  her. 

248.  The  mouse  is  a  tool  used  for  probing  and  sounding  verti- 
cally within  walls  or  partitions.  It  consists  essentially  of  a  small 
weight  tied  to  the  end  of  a,  preferably  very  strong,  cord.  It  is 
used  for  detecting  cross-pieces,  bridges,  braces  and  other  obstruc- 
tions and  for  locating  clear  wire- 
ways.  The  modifications  of  the 
elementary  form  are  numerous. 
Two  "  home-made"  types  of  mice 
are  shown  in  Fig.  129. 

249.  A  simple  mouse  may  be 
9g5^rmade  of  a  waxed  shoemaker's 
Wire  string  and  a  piece  of  solder  about 
4  in.  long.  The  solder  should  be 
bent  in  the  middle  and  the  string 
tied  to  the  arch.  Four  loop  knots 
should  be  tied  in  the  string  just 
above  the  solder.  The  weight  of 
the  solder  will  readily  carry  the 
string  down  within  a  partition,  and  the  loop  knots  will  afford  a 
means  of  engaging  the  string  at  the  outlet  with  a  fishing  hook. 

250.  A  weight -and -chain  mouse  can  be  made  of  a  lead  sinker, 
a  small  brass  spring,  a  bead  chain,  a  wire  ring,  and  a  length  of  cord 
as  shown  in  Fig.  130.  This  tool  will  find  its  way  readily  in  a 
partition  or  wall,  serving  as  a  feeler  both  in  going  down  and  coming 


Carpenters  ' 

h£  —  ---"••/*Ax»/i-  /  /«*» 

Hole 

1 

1 

h                   for  Core., 

11  ! 

J-L 

Piece  of 

About 

Battery  Zinc, 

I 

A. 


-Elevations- 


—  End  View  — 
B. 


FIG.  129. — Showing  the  construc- 
tion of  a  "  mouse." 


Small  Brass 
!  Spring 
V 


M'reRing 

•A, 


-  Bead  Chain  from  Strong  Cord--" 

Fisherman's  a  Pull  Socket 

Sinker 
FIG.  130. — Mouse  with  chain  inserted. 

up.  A  common  fishing  sinker  not  more  than  3/8  in.  in  diameter 
may  be  used.  One  end  of  the  brass-wire  spring  should  be  looped 
into  the  hole  of  the  sinker  and  the  other  end  soldered  to  the  bead 
chain.  A  small  ring  should  connect  the  string  and  chain. 

251.  A  lead  pellet  mouse  is  advocated  by  some  finished-build- 
ing wiremen.     It  is  constructed  as  shown  in  Fig.  131.     The  pellets 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  185 

are  made  from  strips  of  sheet  lead  about  3/4  in.  long  and  1/4  in. 
wide.  They  are  rolled  around  the  fishing  cord  and  hammered 
tight  thereon.  There  should  be  a  space  between  pellets  of 
possibly  3/1 6  in.  and  there  should  be  eight  or  ten  pellets  on  the 
cord.  The  series  of  little  lead  cylinders  furnishes  a  considerable 
weight  on  the  end  of  the  cord  so  the  mouse  will  drop  down  readily 
through  irregular  holes  and  the  spacing  of  the  weights  insures 
flexibility.  If  the  weights  show  a  tendency  to  slip  on  the  cord 

Knot  /Linen  Fish  Cord 


--'----Pellets  Cut  from  Sheet  Lead 
E.n  d  and  Rolled  on  Cord 

View.  Elevation. 

FIG.  131. — The  lead  pellet  mouse. 

and  pack  together  a  knot  can  be  tied  in  the  cord  between  each 
weight  and  its  neighbor. 

252.  Chain  for  Fishing.  Chain  (Fig.  132)  of  the  sort  used  by 
plumbers,  for  attaching  the  plugs  of  lavatories  to  the  loop,  is 
frequently  very  useful  for  fishing.  It  is  heavy,  hence  will  drop 
through  a  raceway  readily  and  the  holes  in  the  links  provide 
places  where  the  hooked  ends  of  fishing  wires  can  engage.  Some- 
times the  wireman  carries  a  long  length — 25  ft.  or  so — for  use  in 
partitions  and  for  pulling  wires  through  flexible  conduit  for  which 


More  or  Less 

„      Linen  F/sh/nci  Line 


^''Plumbers '  Safety  Chain 
FIG.  132. — Fishing  line  with  chain  attached. 

the  chain  is  very  useful.  In  other  cases  a  short  length — possibly 
1 8  in. — is  tied  on  the  end  of  a  linen  fish-line  (Fig.  132)  to  provide 
weight  and  a  medium  whereby  a  fishing  wire  can  be  engaged. 
Some  wiremen  prefer  the  chain  weight  on  the  end  of  a  fish-line  to 
the  lead  weight  of  Fig.  130. 

253.  Pull-socket  Chain  for  Fishing.  Some  wiremen  prefer  a 
socket-chain  fish-line  to  one  of  any  other  material.  A  short 
length  of  socket  chain  used  in  a  mouse  is  shown  in  Fig.  130. 
It  is  somewhat  better  in  one  respect,  though  more  expensive,  than 


186 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


plumber's  chain,  shown  in  Fig.  132,  because  the  socket  chain  will 
glide  readily  over  obstructions  that  might  foul  a  plumber's  chain. 
However,  the  bead  chain  has  no  open  holes,  like  those  in  plumber's 
chain,  wherein  a  fishing  hook  may  be  engaged.  The  chain  can  be 
purchased  in  any  length  desired  from  the  large  electrical  supply 
houses. 

254.  A  snake  or  fishing  wire  is  a  piece  of  wire,  usually  quite 
stiff  and  springy,  used  for  fishing  in  partitions  but  more  partic- 
ularly within  floors.     Galvanized  iron  or  steel  wire  of  round  cross- 
section  is  sometimes  used,  but  special  steel  wire  of  rectangular 
cross-section  is  the  most  desirable  material.     This  rectangular 
section  fish-wire,  like  that  listed  in  Table  255  and  shown  in 
Fig.  133,  can  be  purchased  at  electrical  supply  houses  or  at  corset 
factories.    The  business  end  of  a  snake  should  always  be  bent 
into  the  form  of  a  hook  as  shown  in  Fig.  134  to  prevent  its  catch- 
ing on  plaster  or  on  small  projections  as  it  is  pushed  forward.     It 
is  also  frequently  desirable  to  tie  a  loop  of  cord  in  the  hook  or 
to  wind  iron  wire  around  the  end  as  shown  to  provide  places  where 
probing  hooks  or  hooks  on  other  fishing  lines  can  engage. 

255.  Dimensions  of  Steel  Fish-wire.     The  1/4  in.  wide  wire 
is  most  frequently  used.     The  wire  is  usually  put  up  in  coils  of 
50,  75,  100,  150  and  200  ft. 


FIG.  133. — Steel  fishing  wire. 


w 

Width,  inches 

r 

Thickness, 
inches 

Weight,  per 

100  ft. 

Approximate    price,    cents 

Per  pound 

Per  foot 

\ 

0.015 

II  OZ. 

QO  .O 

o  .62 

* 

0.030 

i  Ib.    4  oz 

60  .O 

0-75 

A 

0.030 

i  Ib.  14  oz. 

60  .O 

I-I3 

1 

0.030 

2  Ib.    8  ox. 

60  .O 

1.50 

A 

0.035 

3  Ib.    8  oz. 

55-o 

1-93 

! 

0  -035 

3  Ib.  12  oz. 

55-o 

2  .06 

TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  187 

256.  A  knob  should  be  fixed  on,  the  end  of  a  snake  for  fishing 
conduit  as  shown  in  Fig.  135.  Such  a  device  is  almost  necessary 
for  flexible  conduit  and  is  desirable  for  long  runs  of  rigid  conduit. 
If  flexible  conduit  is  fished  with  a  snake  having  only  a  hook  at 
its  end,  the  hook  sometimes  catches  in  the  joints  between  con- 
volutions of  the  conduit,  which  separate  when  the  duct  is  bent, 
rendering  withdrawal  difficult. 

..-Hook  in  End  of  FTsh  Wire      Tape.the?e  Turns 


Strong  Cord  or  Annealed  Iron  Wire-'' 


A.    Cord  Loop.  B,    Iron    Wire  Winding. 

FIG.  134. — Method  of  preparing  end  of  snake  or  fishing  wire. 

257.  The  Helper's  Work  in  Wire  Fishing.  Two  men  usually 
are  necessary  to  fish  conductors  through  partitions  and  spaces 
between  a  ceiling  and  the  floor  above.  One  man  is  required  to 
push  the  fish-wire  through  the  wireway  and  the  helper  should 
be  stationed  at  the  outlet  to  catch  the  fish- wire  as  soon  as  it  comes 
sufficiently  near  the  opening.  The  helper  should  have  another 
length  of  fish-wire  with  a  hooked  end,  or  a  fishing  hook  (Fig.  139), 
which  he  can  insert  through  the  outlet  to  engage  the  main  fish- 
wire  being  manipulated  by  the  wireman.  The  main  fish-wire  will 

( Bra 55  Rivete 

'IL /T?T*\  Fishing  Wire 


Plan.  Elevation. 

FIG.  135. — Knob  on  end  of  snake  for  fishing  flexible  conduit. 

disclose  its  location  by  the  noise  it  makes  in  scraping  along  the 
plastered  interior  of  the  partition  or  along  the  woodwork  within  a 
floor. 

258.  A  snake  or  fishing  wire  with  a  weighted  end  is  illustrated 
in  Fig.  136.  It  is  made  by  weighting  the  end  of  the  steel  tape 
with  a  piece  of  solder.  The  solder  may  be  put  on  while  molten 
and  allowed  to  cool  or  may  be  fastened  with  a  piece  of  binding 
wire.  If  melted  solder  is  cast  on  to  form  the  weight,  the  fishing 
wire  must  previously  be  filed  bright  and  clean  and  sal  ammoniac 


188  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

should  be  used  for  a  flux.  It  will  keep  the  snakehead  down  and 
prevent  it  from  coiling  up  in  the  floor  bays  so  that  it  can  easily  be 
pushed  from  pocket  to  pocket  along  the  laths.  The  end  is  bent 
into  the  form  of  a  hook  to  which  the  conductors  may  be  at- 
tached when  the  snakehead  reaches  an  outlet.  By  pulling 
back  the  "snake"  the  conductors  are  drawn  to  the  point 
desired. 

Piece  of  Solder  /Binding  Wire 

or  Lead*. 
t  _  S**e/  Fishing  Wire  _  mftttnC^Vr/KMferf^  *> 

'  IL444-rVn'lr's  f_^i     which  Conductors 

can  be  Tied. 

FIG.  136.  —  Weighted  fish-wire. 

259.  Use  of  a  Steel  Measuring  Tape  as  a  Snake.    It  is  utilized 
by  winding  it  up  tight  like  a  clock  spring  and  then  releasing  the 
coil  after  it  has  been  placed  on  edge  in  the  space  between  a  floor 
and  ceiling.     If  started  correctly  the  tape  will  uncoil  in  the 
direction  of  the  outlet  at  which  it  is  aimed.     It  can  be  projected 
over  open  partitions  into  which  an  ordinary  snake  would  have  a 
tendency  to  drop. 

260.  The  sectional   steel  rod  sometimes  used  instead  of  a 
snake  or  mouse  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  137.    The  application  of 


Wires  ..Threaded  Ends- 


ufflfr 


.  ^ 

{  \  k-^H  / 

U  .................          /p*      \  ^  k  /         /p"         -    ___      —  >J 

JV  J£  -^—  .  .       —Jl  ^...  .  ,-f.  I  £ 

^•Cp/cf  Rolled  Steel  Rods  •''' 
FIG.  137.  —  Sectional  steel  rod  for  fishing. 

this  tool  eliminates  the  difficulty  often  encountered  in  fishing 
wires  in  walls  and  partitions  when  the  upper  and  lower  holes 
through  plates  are  not  vertically  in  line.  The  tool,  which  can  be 
extended  to  any  length,  is  made  of  rods  of  cold-rolled  steel, 
12  in.  long,  with  an  approximate  diameter  of  3/16  in.  Each  sec- 
tion of  the  rod,  except  one  having  the  eye  for  attaching  wire,  is 
threaded  at  both  ends.  The  sections  are  connected  by  short 
couplings.  It  is  advisable  always  to  have  a  coupling  screwed  on 
one  end  of  each  section.  Enough  sections  should  be  carried  in  the 
tool  kit  to  make  up  a  rod  15  ft.  long,  more  or  less. 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  189 

261.  A  rattan  snake  can  be  constructed  as  suggested  by  Fig. 
138.  A  hook  of  steel  wire  is  made  up  at  the  end  of  a  length  of 
rattan  or  reed  such  as  used  for  weaving  furniture.  The  reed 
may  be  8  to  1 2  ft.  long  and,  because  of  its  tendency  always  to  lay 
straight,  can  be  used  in  many  cases  where  no  other  sort  of  fishing 
device  is  satisfactory. 

Wire  Passes  throvgh  Steel  Win 

'  here  and  is  Bent  over -on  Hook 

tiReed  or  Ratf-an  the  other  Side^. 


Wire  Passes 
k - - - 8,,0or,2  *. 


FIG.  138. — Rattan  snake. 

262.  A  steel-hook  fishing  tool  can  be  made  by  brazing  the  steel 
end  cut  from  a  common  shoe-button  hook  to  a  piece  of  No.  8 
galvanized  iron  wire  about  2  ft.  in  length  as  illustrated  in 
Fig.  139.  This  wire  is  stiff  enough  to  permit  its  being  guided 
easily  in  any  direction  and  flexible  enough  to  be  bent  to  any  con- 
tour necessary.  There  is  no  danger  of  the  hook  being  straight- 
ened by  a  heavy  strain — a  difficulty  often  encountered  with  the 
usual  copper- wire  hook. 


r 


~1 


.-Brazed  Joint 

i  I 


'-No.  8  Galvanized ' 
~frorn~Bu-iton Hook  1™"  Wire 

FIG.  139. — Steel-hook  fishing  tool. 

263.  A  magnetized  hook  for  fishing  has  been  successfully 
applied  in  certain  instances.  A  length  of  steel  wire,  which  really 
constitutes  a  probe,  has  a  hook  bent  in  its  end,  is  tempered  hard 
and  then  magnetized.  Some  small  iron  wire  is  attached  (in 
loops  so  that  the  hook  can  readily  engage)  to  the  weight  of  a 
mouse.  When  the  mouse  thus  arranged  is  dropped  down  a  race- 
way the  magnetized  probe  can  be  inserted  from  the  outlet  hole 
or  pocket.  The  hook  will  attract  the  iron  wire  and  when  they 
come  in  contact  the  wireman  can  "feel"  it.  He  can  then  engage 
the  wire  with  the  hook  and  pull  out  the  mouse  and  fish-line. 


190 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


264.  A  sash-cord  pulling-in  line,  particularly  valuable  for  the 
installation  of  flexible  steel  conduit  and  flexible  steel  armored 
conductor,  is  shown  in  Fig.  140.  A  length  of  strong  iron  wire, 
twisted  around  the  cord  as  illustrated,  affords  a  means  whereby 
the  thing  to  be  pulled  in  can  be  attached.  The  ends  of  the  wire 

Wire  Wrapped  Spirally  around  Cord 

** Wire  Ends  Twisted  together 


'-Wire  Twisted  to  Form  a  Neck  'Hole  through  Cord  ^Sash  Cord 

FIG.  140. — Arrangement  of  sash  cord  pulling-in  line. 

should  be  wrapped  about  the  cord  spirally  in  opposite  directions 
so  that  when  the  wires  are  under  tension  they  will  grip  the  cord 
tightly. 

265.  The  mouse  and  looped  snake  device,  shown  in  Figs.  141 
and  142,  is  a  great  time  saver  in  the  wiring  of  finished  frame  build- 
ings. In  these  structures  standard  construction  usually  involves 


FIG.   141. — Application  of  mouse  and  looped  snake  device. 

the  use  of  2-in.  X  4-in.  studs  in  the  outside  walls  as  shown  in  Fig. 
141.  A  ribbon  usually  supports  the  floor  joists  for  the  second 
floor.  This  provides  an  unobstructed  wireway  from  the  attic 
-to  the  cellar  ^between  the  studs.  Fig.  87  //  gives  the  details  of 
the  usual  construction.  With  the  device  being  described,  ad- 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  191 

vantage  may  be  taken  of  this  clear  space  and  conductors  can  be 
fished  from  a  pocket  at  a  partition  on  the  second  floor  or  from 
first-story  electrolier  outlet  directly  to  the  basement. 

266.  Construction  of  the  Mouse  and  Looped  Snake  Device. 
This  tool,  shown  in  Fig.  142,  comprises  a  steel  snake  and  a  mouse 
consisting  of  a  length  of  cord  and  a  lead  ball  about  11/4  in. 
in  diameter  or  other   similar   spherical   weight.     A  carpenter's 
chalk-line  makes  an  ideal  cord.     A  steel  snake  of  rectangular 
section  is  best  but  one  of  round  wire  can  be  used.     A  loop, 
large  enough  so  that  the  cord  will 

pass  through  it  readily,  is  bent  in 
the  end  of  the  snake.  The  loop 
is  bound  with  fine  wire  so  that  it 
cannot  unbend.  It  is  well  to  sol- 
der the  binding.  One  end  of  the 
cord  is  then  passed  through  the 

loop.     The  cord  should  be  20  or      r*Knatt 

p.     i  rr>i  j  •    f     ,         j     FIG.  142. — Details  of  the  mouse 

30  ft.  long.  ^  The  cord  is  fastened          anj  looped  snake  devke> 

to  the  spherical  weight  by  passing 

it  through  a  hole  drilled  in  the  weight  and  then  tying  a  knot  in  it. 

Fig.  142  shows  the  details. 

267.  Manipulation  of  the  Mouse  and  Looped  Snake  Device. 
See  Figs.  141  and  142.    The  end  of  the  device  comprising  the 
weight  and  loop  should  be  inserted  through  the  outlet  hole  A 
into  the  space  within  the  floor  and  pushed  in  the  direction  of  the 
space  C  where  it  is  proposed  to  drop  the  circuit.     The  cord  is  held 
taut  as  the  wire  is  pushed  along  until  the  looped  end  reaches  an 
open  space  C.     The  cord  then  is  released  and  the  lead  weight 
drops.     In  houses  of  certain  construction  its  path  may  be  wholly 
unobstructed  and  the  weight  will  drop  from  the  second  or  third 
floor  clear  to  the  cellar.     In  such  cases  loom-covered  or    steel 
armored  conductors  can  be  drawn  up  to  the  outlet  through  which 
the  weight  and  loop  originally  were  pushed.     When  there  is  no 
free  opening  into  the  cellar,  the  wireman  in  the  room  above  should 
pull  the  cord  back  and  forth,  thus  causing  the  lead  weight  to 
bounce  against  the  obstruction  that  prevents  it  from  falling  into 
the  cellar.     The  helper  standing  in  the  cellar  can  locate  the  posi- 
tion of  the  obstruction  by  the  sound  of  the  weight  striking  the 


192 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


wood  and  can  bore  up  through  the  brace  or  sill,  making  a  hole 
through  which  the  chalk-line  can  be  drawn. 

In  pushing  the  weight  and  loop  through  the  space  B  between 


,'No.lO  Rubber- Cove  red  Wire 


Solid  Knob 


FIG.  143. — Substitute  for  the  mouse  and  looped  snake  device. 


the  floor  and  ceiling,  the  wireman  should  continually  twist  and 
shake  the  appliance  so  that  the  weight  may  pass  over  obstructions 
in  its  horizontal  path.  He  should  be  careful  to  select  a  space,  Z), 


FIG.  144. — Application  of  the  tool  shown  in  preceding  figure. 

between  two  studs  not  obstructed  by  an  outside  door  or  window 
through  which  to  make  the  drop  to  the  cellar. 

268.  An  emergency   substitute  for  the  mouse  and  looped 
snake  device,  which  can  be  constructed  from  materials  in  any 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  193 

wireman's  kit,  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  143,  and  its  application  is 
illustrated  in  Fig  144.  Instead  of  the  steel  snake,  No.  10  rubber- 
covered  conductor  can  be  utilized  and  a  No.  5  solid  porcelain  knob 
can  be  substituted  for  the  lead  ball.  The  porcelain  knob  is' 
placed  on  a  hook  bent  in  the  end  of  the  No.  10  conductor.  When 
this  end  of  the  tool  reaches  an  open  space  over  the  partition  the 
knob  is  dislodged  by  loosening  up  the  chalk-line  and  suddenly 
withdrawing  the  No.  10  conductor.  Though  both  tools  ac- 
complish the  same  result,  the  mouse  and  looped  snake  arrange- 
ment of  Fig.  142  is  the  most  desirable  because  it  is  more  sub- 
stantial. The  saving  in  time  it  will  effect  justifies  the  small 
expense  of  constructing  the  arrangement  as  a  permanent  tool. 

268a.  An  angling  rod  for  wire  fishing  can  be  arranged  and  used 
as  suggested  in  Figs.  145 A  and  145^.  The  arrangement  is  par- 
ticularly useful  in  fishing  from  a  floor  pocket  in  a  story  above  to  a 
basement  through  a  side  wall  space,  as  shown  in  Fig.  146^.  It 

..  Strong  Cord 
Screw  Eyes / 

4X^- —  Socket  or  Screw  Joint-  -"' 
-  Spherical 
Lead  Weight 

FIG.  145/1. — Arrangement  of  angling  rod  for  wire  fishing. 

can  also  be  frequently  utilized  for  fishing  from  a  floor  pocket  to  a 
side  wall  or  partition  outlet.  The  device  is  arranged  as  shown 
in  Fig.  145^.  A  screw  eye  is  inserted  in  the  end  of  the  smallest 
section  of  the  rod.  Additional  screw  eyes  are  inserted  in  each 
section,  to  form  guides  for  the  cord,  unless  the  eyes  already  in  the 
sections  appear  to  be  sufficiently  substantial.  A  strong  cord — -a 
carpenter's  chalk-line  is  good — is  threaded  through  the  eyes.  A 
weight,  preferably  of  lead  and  spherical  so  that  it  will  readily  roll 
over  obstructions,  is  fastened  to  the  end  of  the  cord  by  threading 
the  cord  through  a  hole  in  the  weight  and  tying  a  knot  in  it. 
If  no  other  weight  is  available  a  porcelain  insulator  will  do.  A 
jointed  gun-cleaning  rod  can  be  used  instead  of  an  angling  rod 
for  fishing  short  distances. 

The  device  is  manipulated  as  indicated  in  Fig.  145$.  The  first 
section  of  the  rod  is  pushed  through  the  floor  pocket  toward  the 

13 


194 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


opening  over  the  side  wall  or  partition  through  which  the  con- 
ductors are  to  be  drawn.  The  cord  passes  through  the  screw  eye 
at  the  end  of  the  rod  and  is  held  taut  so  that  the  weight  is  drawn 
up  against  the  rod  end.  After  the  first  section  has  been  pushed 
through  the  pocket  into  the  floor  space,  the  second  section,  cord 
held  taut  in  place,  is  joined  to  the  first  and  pushed  in  also.  The 
rod  is  thus  lengthened  by  sections  until  the  weight  at  its  far  end 
hangs  over  the  space  within  the  partition  or  wall.  Then  the 
tension  on  the  cord  is  released  and  its  weight  will  drop  down 


Screw 


Studding  •*• 


Weight—? 
Foundation 


Angling     Rod  -•"" 


<~Lath  cxnd 

Plaster 


F  i  rst 
S-t-o  r y 


Joist 


f 


Basemenl- 


FIG.  145^. — Angling  rod  for  fishing. 

within  the  space.     It  can  be  fished  out  at  the  basement  ceiling 
or  through  I  he  wall  or  partition  outlet. 

269.  Conductors  can  be  fished  from  a  ceiling  space  into  a 
partition  space  without  the  necessity  of  cutting  a  large  pocket  in 
the  wall.  The  method  of  boring  the  ceiling  plate  for  fishing  the 
loom  also  the  loom  and  conductors  in  final  position  are  shown  in 
Figs.  146  and  146^.  The  only  visible  mutilation  necessitated 
by  the  process  comprises  two  small  holes  in  the  partition  near  the 
ceiling.  These  need  not  be  more  than  i  in.  in  diameter  and 
can  be  readily  plastered  up  and  covered  by  wall-paper.  If  the 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


195 


work  is  done  properly  it  is  impossible  for  one  standing  on  the  floor 
to  detect  where  the  holes  were  bored.  The  first  hole  is  drilled  as 
indicated  at  A  in  Fig.  146,  diagonally  from  the  room  into  the 
ceiling  space.  Hole  B  is  bored  so  that  it  will  go  through  the 
lower  edge  of  the  ceiling  plate.  By  proper  fishing,  loom-covered 


'•Ceiling 


Floor 


..Ceiling  P/a  re 


Floor 


B 


First    Hole 
Bored. 


Second  Hole 
Bored. 


FIG.  146. — Boring  ceiling  plate  for 
fishing  loom. 


FIG.  146^4. — Loom  and  conductors 
in  final  position. 


conductor  or  flexible  cable  can  be  drawn  into  the  wireway  so 
as  to  assume  the  position  shown  in  Fig.  146/1.  Where  there  is  a 
molding  in  the  corner  between  side  wall  and  ceiling,  the  molding 
can  be  removed  and  then  the  holes  can  be  so  bored  that  they  will 
be  concealed  by  the  molding  when  it  is  replaced. 


Tixture 

Righ+Angle  Wire. 

Bend-,,.,, 


UpperPoiftion 
of  Screw  Driver 


FIG.  147. — Drawing  wire  Into  fixture  arm. 

270.  A  good  method  of  pulling  fixture  wires  past  a  right  angle 
turn  is  pictured  in  Fig.  147.  After  the  end  of  the  wire  has  been 
brought  to  the  opening  of  the  fixture,  a  small  screw-driver  is  in- 


196  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

serted  under  the  wire  at  the  turn  in  the  tube  as  illustrated.  With 
each  movement  of  the  screw-driver  from  the  upper  position  in  the 
figure  to  that  shown  by  the  dotted  lines,  the  wire  will  be  pried 
out  an  eighth  of  an  inch  or  more.  As  it  is  necessary  to  maintain  a 
pulling  strain  on  the  wires  as  they  come  out,  their  ends  should  be 
fastened  in  a  bench  vice  and  the  wireman  should  draw  the  fixture 
arm  away  from  the  bench  as  rapidly  as  the  wire  is  pulled  past 
the  turn  in  the  fixture.  To  start  the  conductors  through  the  fix- 
ture a  fish-wire  should  be  used. 

271.  Fishing  from  a  ceiling  to  a  side-wall  outlet  without  remov- 
ing flooring  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  141.     The  method,  which  is  em- 
ployed chiefly  when  it  is  desired  to  install  a  bracket  or  switch  on 
the  outer  wall  of  a  room,  requires  the  use  of  the  mouse  and 
looped  snake  arrangement,  the  detailed  construction  of  which  is 
shown  in  Fig.  142.     In  the  application  illustrated  in  Fig.  141  it 
was  desired  to  place  a  bracket  at  the  point  E.    At  A  a  hole  was 
bored    through   the    baseboard,   sill    and  floor.     Through   this 
opening  the  arrangement  was  inserted  into  the  space  between  the 
floor  of  the  second  story  and  the  ceiling  of  the  first  story.     When 
the  loop  reached  C  the  cord  was  loosened  and  the  weight  allowed 
to  drop  to  a  point  D  opposite  E.    Here  the  cord  was  fished 
out  with  a  hook  and  the  pair  of  conductors  was  attached.     The 
conductors  were  then  drawn  through  to  A. 

272.  A  method  of  fishing  with  two  hooked  snakes  or  wires  is 
illustrated  by  Fig.  148.     This  plan  frequently  is  feasible  when 
it  is  desired  to  fish  from  a  cellar  to  the  space  above  the  first-floor 
ceiling.    One  snake  is  pushed  from  the  outlet  hole  in  the  first- 
story  ceiling  to  the  space  over  the  partition.     The  other  snake  is 
pushed  upward  from  the  cellar.     The  two  are  then  manipu- 
lated by  the  wireman  and  his  helper  until  their  two  hooked  ends 
engage.     After  attaching  to  one  of  the  snakes  the  conductors  that 
are   to  be  pulled  in,  the  whole  combination  is  pulled  through 
the  wireway  by  the  other  wire.     Sometimes  it  is  preferable  to 
pull  through  a  pulling-in  line,  a  strong  cord  or  carpenter's  chalk- 
line,  before  the  conductors  themselves  are  drawn  in.    No.   8 
galvanized  iron  wire  makes  an  effective  snake  for  the  above  de- 
scribed application. 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


197 


Floor- 


")lz  fared  in  Floor,  through   ^7 
which  to  Bore  Hole        \ 
*~~ — '-^        in  Plate 


Jot  si- 


*  No.  8  Iron 
Fishing 


Outlet  Hols-' 


Dining 

Room 


Floor 


Joist 


//fo/e  //?  Ceiling  Plate 


Bed 
Room 


--/fo/e  7/7 
Floor 


'oorPlate 


B  ctsemen  t 


FIG.  148. — Fishing  in  partitions  with  hooked  snakes. 


T 


Holes 


Stud 


•[Plate 


Floor 


Joist 


Fishing  Wire--* 

FIG.  149. — Iron  pipe  as  guide  for  fish- 
ing wire. 


273.  Iron  pipe  as  a  guide  for 
fishing  wire  eliminates  much 
of  the  trouble  of  getting  a  snake 
through  holes  in  the  bridges 
of  a  wall  or  partition.  Its  use 
is  pictured  in  Fig.  149.  By 
inserting  a  length  of  quarter- 
inch  pipe  or  conduit  through 
the  hole  in  the  floor  it  is  an 
easy  matter  to  locate  the  hole 
in  the  bridge.  When  this  dis- 
tance has  been  tunneled,  as 
it  were,  by  the  pipe,  shove  the 
snake  through.  After  the 
wire  has  been  hooked  from 
above  the  pipe  may  be  pulled 
out.  In  fishing  downward, 
the  pipe  guide  can  also  be 


198 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


used  in  which  case  it  is  desirable  to  use  a  mouse  instead  of  a 
snake. 

274.  An  electric-bell  indicator  may  replace  the  wireman's 
helper  in  some  instances  of  wire  fishing.  The  method  is  pic- 
tured in  Fig.  150.  A  bunch  of  bare  copper  wire  is  pushed  into 
the  outlet  through  which  it  is  desired  to  fish  and  to  this  bunch 
of  wire  is  connected  one  of  the  terminals  of  an  electric  bell  and 
battery  set.  The  other  terminal  of  the  bell  is  connected  to 
a  snake  being  pushed  by  the  wireman.  When  he  has  pushed 
the  snake  into  connection  with  the  bunch  of  bare  copper,  the 


Bunchof 


Outlet 


FIG.  150. — Electric-bell  indicator  for  fishing. 

electric  bell  will  give  notification  by  ringing.  It  is  then  usually 
possible  by  pulling  the  bunch  of  copper  wire  out  of  the  outlet  to 
draw  the  snake  with  it,  after  which  the  conductors  can  be 
readily  pulled  in  by  attaching  them  to  the  snake.  The  snake 
should  have  a  hook  bent  in  its  end  with  which  to  engage  the 
bunch  of  wire. 

275.  A  method  of  forcing  conductors  around  the  coved  portions 
of  a  ceiling  without  any  preliminary  fishing  is  shown  in  Fig.  151. 
This  plan  is  particularly  applicable  when  steel  armored  conduit 
or  cable  is  being  installed.  After  the  outlet  hole  in  the  ceiling 
has  been  made  the  cable  should  be  inserted  into  the  space  be- 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


199 


tween  the  ceiling  and  the  floor  above  and  pushed  in  the  direction 
of  the  partition  it  is  desired  to  enter.  Often  an  opening  will  be 
found  between  the  studs  without  the  necessity  of  drilling  through 
the  plate  topping  the  studs.  When  this  is  impossible  the  methods 
of  fishing  described  in  other  paragraphs  should  be  employed. 


Second          Story 
Floor  of  Second  Jfory-.^ 


Stud- 


Outlet-  Hole  •'' 

P/aster  in  Ceilin3 

Coved  Ceiling 


<-  Partition 
Fi  rs-t- 


Story 


FIG.  151. — Forcing  armored  cable  around  a  coved  ceiling. 

276.  The   Fishing   of   Conductors   Laid   on   Furring   Strips. 

Where  a  ceiling  is  plastered  on  laths  which  are  nailed  to  furring 
strips  and  it  is  desired  to  run  the  conductors  within  the  ceiling 
parallel  to  the  direction  of  the  furring  strips  (at  right  angles  to  the 
beams),  the  scheme  outlined  in  Fig.  152  can  often  be  adopted. 
With  this  method  the  removal  of  floor  boards  is  unnecessary. 
The  space,  provided  by  the  furring  strips,  between  the  tops  of 
the  lath  and  the  bottom  edges  of  the  joists,  furnishes  the  space 
through  which  the  conductors  can  be  drawn. 

In  installing  conductors  in  such  cases,  a  section  of  baseboard 
is  removed  from  a  partition  as  at  A,  Fig.  152,  and  a  i-in.  hole 
for  each  conductor  is  bored  through  the  floor  plate  and  floor 
and  into  the  space  between  the  floor  and  ceiling.  Where  more 
than  one  conductor  is  to  be  drawn  in  the  holes  should  be  spaced 
about  4  in.,  horizontally,  apart.  A  snake  having  a  hook  on  its 
end  is  fed  into  each  of  the  holes  and  worked  along  toward  the 


200 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


point  B  in  the  space  indicated  by  line  C  in  the  illustration.  When 
the  hooked  end  of  the  snake  reaches  the  point  B  another  hooked 
wire  is  pushed  down  through  hole  D  and  the  two  ends  are  twisted 
around  until  the  hooks  engage,  after  which  the  long  snake  can  be 
pulled  out  with  the  short  one.  With  the  long  snake,  a  pulling- 
in  line  can  be  drawn  through  and  then  the  conductors  either  in 
circular  loom  or  in  flexible  armored  conduit  can  be  drawn  in. 
If  difficulty  is  experienced  in  pulling  in  the  conductors,  draw 
through  first  a  length  of  small  steel  armored  cable  and  then  have 


,..  Partitions 

of Rooms. ... 


Line  Showing 
Route  of , 
Fishing  Wire 
and  Fished 
Conductor., 


Hole  Bored 
through  Floor 
Plate  and  Floor. 


A 

Section  of 
Base  Board 
Removed 


"-Lath 

Plastered  Ceiling/  Furring  Strips-' 

FIG.  152. — Method  of  fishing  conductors  in  a  furred  ceiling. 

it  pulled  back  and  forth  by  a  man  at  each  end,  which  will  produce 
a  sawing  action  on  the  plaster  above  the  lath  and  will  cut  away 
the  plaster  causing  the  interference. 

RUNNING  CONDUCTORS  TO  SIDE  OUTLETS 

277.  Running  wires  to  switch  and  fixture  outlets  in  partitions 

is  probably  the  most  difficult  work  encountered  in  the  wiring 
of  finished  buildings.  As  indicated  in  Figs.  179  and  181,  a  con- 
siderable percentage  of  the  total  wiring  lies  within  partitions,, 
and  great  ingenuity  must  often  be  displayed  in  running  the 


•        TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  201 

conductors  to  specified  outlets  without  damaging  the  walls. 
Where  there  is  no  bracing  or  other  obstruction  within  a  parti- 
tion and  the  header  can  be  reached  from  an  attic  or  by  removing 
floor  boards,  the  operation  is  simple.  A  hole  is  bored  in  the  header, 
a  "mouse"  (Fig.  129)  is  dropped  through  and  the  wires  are 
pulled  up,  by  attaching  them  to  the  mouse  string,  from  the 
outlet  hole  in  the  partition  to  the  hole  in  the  header.  All  wires 
within  partitions  and  in  other  places  where  they  cannot  be  sup- 
ported on  porcelain  must  be  sheathed  with  circular  loom,  which 
is  slipped  over  the  wires  before  they  are  pulled  in. 

278.  There  are  several  methods  of  getting  conductors  past 
obstructions  to  wall  and  partition  outlets.  In  a  great  many 
cases,  the  bringing  out  of  the  switch  loops  at  outlets  at  a  proper 
distance  from  the  floor  is  the  most  difficult  part  of  wiring  old 
houses,  on  account  of  the  cross-pieces  or  bridges  sometimes  found 
in  partitions.  The  method  to  be  used  must  be  determined  by 
the  wireman  on  the  job,  according  to  the  conditions  found.  The 
procedure,  as  suggested  by  Howard  H.  Wood,  is  as  follows: 

First,  with  his  mouse,  he  finds  if  the  runway  is  clear;  if  so,  the 
rest  is  easy.  But,  if  he  finds  there  are  cross-pieces,  he  locates  their 
position  by  measurement  with  the  mouse,  and  marks  the  location 
on  the  wall.  If  the  cross-pieces  are  above  the  proper  positions 
for  the  switch,  he  will  probably  use  one  of  the  following  methods 
(which  are  described  in  detail  in  succeeding  paragraphs)  of  getting 
around  them: 

(a)  Remove  the  door  stop  strip  from  the  frame  of  the  door- 
way (see  279),  bore   through  on  each  side  of  the  cross-piece,  and 
cut  a  recess  in  the  inside  of  the  frame,  then  fish  the  wires  around. 

(b)  If  on  the  second  floor,  and  there  is  no  partition  directly 
above,  the  wireman  can  use  a  pipe-extension  boring  tool  (Figs. 
114  to  1 1 8),  boring  one  hole  large  enough  to  fish  the  switch  loop 
through. 

(c)  If  the  cross-piece  is  not  too  far  above  the  proposed  loca- 
tion of  the  switch,  the  holes  can  be  drilled  on  a  slant  from  the 
switch  opening.     (See  Fig.  152^.) 

(d)  Remove   the    wall-paper    directly    over    the   cross-piece. 
Then  cut  a  hole  and  bore  holes  or  cut  away  the  cross-piece  so 
that  the  wires  will  pass.     (See  280). 


202 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


-Bridge 


rh  and 
Plaster 


(e)  Sometimes  a  wireman  will  attempt  to  remove  these  cross- 
pieces,  when  he  can  get  at  them  from  above,  by  putting  a  piece 

of  pipe  down  between  the  partition, 
and  hitting  with  a  heavy  hammer. 
This  method  is  liable  to  cause  dam- 
age to  the  plaster  by  bulging  or 
breaking  it  out,  and  is  not  recom- 
mended. 

(/)  When  a  switch  must  be  lo- 
cated on  a  brick  wall,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  run  wires  in  rigid  or  flexible 
steel  conduit.  The  wall  must  be 

<*       j  -nor       ~~5  channeled,  the  conduit  buried  in  it. 
5          /  >5      Plare  ^ 

noor^ iteHL        >  and  the  groove    replastered.     At 

the  point  where  the  metal  termi- 
nates under  the  floor  a  suitable 
outlet  fitting  must  be  provided. 
(See  285.) 

279.  When  a  partition  outlet 
is  near  a  doorway,  vertical  con- 


FIG.  152^4. — Boring  hole  through 
bridge  from  outlet  opening. 


Position 
of  Bridge 


FIG.  153. — Boring  holes  around 
bridge. 


FIG.  154. — Carrying  wires  around  a 
bridge. 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


203 


ductors  can  be  run  past  bridges  within  a  partition  by  removing 
the  door  jamb  and  following  the  method  illustrated  in  Figs.  153 
and  154.  In  the  case  shown  it  was  not  feasible  to  bore  down  from 
above  with  the  long-distance  boring  tool,  so  the  conductors  were 
carried  up  from  below.  The  door  jamb  in  such  a  case  can  either 
be  pried  loose  and  bent  up,  as  shown  at  B'  (Fig.  154),  or  a  saw-cut 
can  be  made  in  the  jamb  as  at  C  and  the  section  B  of  the  jamb  can 
be  removed.  In  either  case  the  stud  at  the  side  of  the  door  is 
exposed  and  wireways  can  be  cut  in  its  outer  face  around  bridges 
or  other  obstructions,  as  shown.  At  the  floor  a  hole  can  be  cut 
through  the  stud,  as  shown  at  D,  and  through  this  hole  another 
can  be  bored  through  the  floor.  The  conductors  are  then  carried 
through  this  floor  hole  into  the  space  between  the  joists.  The 
electrical  codes  of  most  municipalities  require  that  all  conductors 
within  partitions  and  not  supported  on  porcelain  be  carried  in 
circular  loom.  Allowance  must  be  made  for  this  in  boring  holes 
and  cutting  wireways. 


Knife 
Slits 
through 
Wall 
Paper 


,.-  Bridge 


Exposed 
Plaster 


A. 


'Hole 
•through 
Lath  and 
Plaster 


B. 


Plaster 
Wall 

paPer^    \ 
'•-4, 

Paper 
Rolled 
Back, 


Laths  --''-I 


.Stud 


C. 


FIG.  155. — Carrying  wires  around  a  bridge  when  it  is  necessary  to  cut  into 

plaster. 

280.  To  carry  conductors  past  a  bridge  in  a  wall  when  a 
doorway  is  not  adjacent  and  when  the  long-distance  boring  tool  is 
not  applicable,  it  is  necessary  to  cut  into  the  surface  of  the  wall 
as  shown  in  Fig.  155  and  as  described  in  the  following  paragraph. 


204 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Through  the  bared  plaster  cut  holes  into  the  partition  above  and 
below  the  bridge,  and  remove  enough  plaster  from  in  front  of  the 
bridge  to  leave  a  cavity  that  will  accommodate  the  loom-covered 
conductors.  The  conductors  may  then  be  run  in  as  suggested  in 
the  longitudinal  section  C.  The  hole  left  in  the  wall  surface 
should  be  filled  with  plaster  of  Paris  and  the  paper  carefully 
replaced  as  described  in  281. 

281.  A  method  of  cutting  wall-paper  to  expose  plaster  for 

making  a  fishing  hole  without  dis- 
figuring the  wall  decoration  is  il- 
lustrated by  Fig.  156  and  by  A 
and  B  of  Fig.  155.  With  certain 
kinds  of  wall  paper  the  method 
here  described  can  be  used  with 
practically  no  visible  damage.  If 
the  wall  paper  is  such  that  mois- 
ture will  disfigure  it,  this  method 
should  not  be  used  Cartridge  pa- 
pers are  not,  as  a  rule,  affected  by 
a  little  water.  In  order  to  ascer- 
tain the  effect  of  water  on  the  pa- 
per in  question,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  experiment  with  a  small  area  in  an  inconspicuous  corner. 

If  the  paper  stands  the  test,  two  slits  should  be  cut  through  it  at 
right  angles  to  each  other,  as  suggested  in  A  of  the  illustration,  at 
a  point  just  opposite  the  bridge.  The  bridge  can  be  located 
by  dropping  a  "mouse"  on  it  from  the  outlet  hole  cut  through 
the  partition  at  a  point  above  it.  A  very  sharp  knife  should  be 
used  in  cutting  the  slits. 

Ordinarily,  the  paper  should  be  soaked  slightly  around  the 
slits  with  a  wet  sponge  or  cloth.  When  the  water  has  been 
absorbed  by  the  paper  and  the  paste  that  held  it  to  the  wall  has 
softened,  peel  back  the  four  triangular  sections  of  paper.  A 
wide-bladed  putty  knife  is  a  convenient  tool  for  the  purpose.  Be 
careful  not  to  crack  or  crease  the  paper.  In  old  buildings  where 
there  are  many  thicknesses  of  paper  on  the  wall  they  can,  fre- 
quently, be  removed  without  moistening.  When  the  paper  is 


, 

.Wall  Paper  Cut 
i        ana  Turned  back 

i 

Doo 
Fr 

L,j 

r 
a  me. 

'       ^Position 
of  Bridge 

1 

Tl 

'  : 

taSwifrh  Outlet  Hole 

FIG. 


156. — Wall    paper 
rolled  back. 


cut   and 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


205 


Lath 


Stud 


Base  Board 

Removed- 
Hole  Cut  \ 
through  Plaster " 


Plaster 


completely  "peeled"  it  will  appear  as  shown  in  B,  Fig.  155,  and 
in  Fig.  156. 

Should  there  happen  to  be  a  figure  or  flower  in  the  wall  paper 
design  directly  over  the  bridge 
within  the  wall,  the  double  slit 
is  not  made,  but  instead  the  entire 
design  is  cut  out  of  the  wall  paper 
with  a  sharp  knife.  A  hole  is  now 
made  through  the  laths  and  plas- 
ter to  accommodate  the  conduc- 
tors and  they  are  drawn  in.  After 
they  are  in,  the  hole  is  filled  with 
plaster  of  Paris  and  the  design 

can  be  replaced  on  the  wall  so 

.        .  ,  .      ,  FIG.  157. — Method     of     cutting 

neatly  that    the  casual  observer  through  2  in.  by  4  in.  floor  plate. 

will    not    know    the    wall-paper 

was  cut.    The  hole  in  the  plaster  should  always  be  somewhat 

smaller  than  the  piece  of  paper  removed  from  the  wall. 

282.  Carrying  Conductors  Around  or  Through  a  Sill.    A  2  in. 
by  4  in.  sill  is  sometimes  placed  under  the  lower  ends  of  studs  that 


HoleBored 
through 

Floor-Plate 

Board  Removed-. 


Conductors- 


Lath-. 


ftud 

x  Wires  Encased 

in  Loom 


Floor  Plate 


FIG.  158. — Method  of  wiring  around  a  sill  or  floor  plate. 

form  a  partition,  as  shown  in  Fig.  157.  Where  this  construction 
is  encountered  and  it  is  not  possible  to  bore  through  the  sill  from 
above  with  the  pipe-extension  boring  tool,  the  baseboard  must  be 


206 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


removed  as  shown.  After  the  baseboard  is  off,  an  orifice  is  cut 
through  the  lath  and  plaster  and  a  slanting  hole  is  bored  through 
the  sill  and  the  floor.  Sometimes  it  is  not  necessary  to  bore  the 
hole  in  the  sill  as  the  wires  can  be  run  in  a  space  formed  by  re- 
moving some  lath  and  plaster,  as  suggested  in  Fig.  158.  Where 
large  conductors  are  involved  it  is  usually  necessary  to  bore 
through  the  sill. 

283.  Wiring  between  Partitions  on  Different  Floors.  Often 
the  condition  illustrated  in  Fig.  159  is  encountered.  It  is  nec- 
essary to  draw  conductors  from  an  outlet  in  a  partition  in  one 


Outlet  Hole--* 


Second     Story 


Base  Board 

Removed- -^ 


.  I  Hole  through  Floor 


hole  through 


through 
Plate-.. 


'Outlet 
Hole 


Pocket- 


Plate          Conductors 


First        Story 


Quarter  Round 


Base  Board 


FIG.  159. — Fishing  between  partitions  on  different  floors. 

story  to  an  outlet  in  a  partition  in  another  story.  Where  the  parti- 
tion of  the  story  above  lines  up  with  that  of  the  story  below, 
the  conductors  can  usually  be  drawn  in  by  cutting  a  pocket  close 
to  the  foot  of  the  partition  in  the  second  story.  Where,  as  in 
Fig.  159,  the  partitions  do  not  line  up,  it  is  more  difficult  to  get 
the  conductors  in  without  disfiguring  the  building.  Frequently 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  207 

the  partition  in  the  lower  story  lies  under  a  hall  or  other  second 
story  room  that  has  a  nicely  finished  bare  floor  from  which  the 
wireman  does  not  dare  to  remove  boards. 

One  solution  of  the  problem  is  to  bore  one  5/8-  or  3/4-in.  hole 
directly  over  the  plate  of  the  first-story  partition  as  indicated  at  A . 
Then  through  this  hole,  by  pitching  the  bit  and  using  one  having 
a  long  shank  or  an  extension  bit,  a  half  dozen  holes  can  be  bored 
through  the  plate — all  through  the  one  hole  in  the  floor.  In- 
stead of  making  several  small  holes  in  the  plate  it  is  possible  to 
make  one  large  one  by  boring  the  small  holes  around  in  a  circle 
and  then  knocking  out  the  block  with  a  bar  or  a  piece  of  conduit. 
To  draw  in  the  conductors :  A  mouse  or  a  fish  chain  is  dropped  in 
at  A  and  pulled  out  at  B.  Then  a  snake  is  pushed  in  at  C,  through 
E,  and  drawn  out  with  a  hooked  probe  (see  Fig.  139)  at  A.  The 
snake  and  fish- wire  are  fastened  together  at  A  and  the  chain  is 
drawn  by  the  snake  over  to  C.  Now  the  conductors  are  fastened 
to  the  lower  end  of  the  fish  chain  which  is  extending  from  B 
and  the  conductors  are  pulled  in  over  to  C.  From  C  the  con- 
ductors are  readily  drawn  up  to  D. 

A  plug  of  suitable  wood,  cut 
across  the  grain,  and  tapering 
so  that  it  will  fit  nicely,  is  made 
for  hole  A  and  driven  therein. 


;•  Board  Removed         _. 

Its  top  can  be  planed  off  flush          «*«** -^ 


*/•  Base  Board 

'  Pocket  for  Receptacle 


with  the  surface  of  the  floor  and 

if  its  grain  was  selected  to  match 

that  of  the  floor  it  will  be  difficult  FlG*  '^"^ptade^^ 

to  locate. 

284.  A  receptacle  for  an  extension  plug  mounted  in  a  baseboard 
is  a  good  substitute  for  a  wall  fixture  when  it  is  objectionable  to 
channel  a  brick  wall  to  the  regulation  bracket  height  of  4  ft.  6  in. 
The  method  is  illustrated  in  Fig.  160.  By  means  of  an  extension 
cord  a  portable  or  table  lamp  can  be  substituted  for  the  wall 
fixture.  It  will  be  noted  from  the  figure  that  it  is  not  necessary 
even  to  remove  the  baseboard.  A  slanting  hole  is  drilled  from 
the  pocket  for  the  baseboard  receptacle  to  another  pocket  cut 
beneath  the  floor.  A  short  piece  of  conduit  is  then  installed 
from  the  receptacle  outlet  to  the  pocket  under  the  floor.  Such 


208  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

a  baseboard  receptacle  also  forms  a  convenient  means  of  attach- 
ment for  portable  vacuum  cleaners  and  heating  devices. 

285.  A  method  of  running  conductors  to  an  outlet  in  a  "brick 
wall  with  minimum   damage   to  finish  and  cutting   of  bricks 
is  shown  in  Fig.  54.     The  baseboard  is  not  removed.     A  cavity 
is  cut  for  the  metal  outlet  box  (all  conductors  in  brick  walls 
must  be  protected  with  iron  armor)  and  a  groove  is  cut  in  the 
wall  surface  from  the  outlet  cavity  down  to  the  baseboard.     From 
this  point  a  slanting  hole  is  drilled  to  a  pocket  opening  between 
the  joists.     To  cut  this  pocket  it  is  necessary  to  remove  some  floor 
boards.     Flexible  steel  armored  conduit  is  then  connected  to  an 
outlet  box,  the  box  is  fastened  in  the  cavity  provided  for  it  by  a 
screw  turning  into  a  lead  expansion  anchor,  and  the  conduit  is 
run  through  the  hole  back  of  the  baseboard  and  placed  in  the 
groove. 

286.  When  installing  a  flush  switch,  the  method  of  pulling 
in  the  switch  box  is  preferable  to  the  reverse  procedure  of  pull- 
ing the  wires  in  from  the  opposite  direction  and  connecting  the 
switch  last.     In  connecting  wires  to  the  switch  by  this  method 
(see  Fig.  161)  the  wireman  is  not  hampered  by  having  to  work  in 
the  small  space  of  an  outlet  box.     Another  advantage  of  the 
" pulling  in  complete"  method  lies  in  the  diminished  risk  of 
damaging  the  plaster  around  the  sides  of  the  outlet  hole.     Where 
wires  are  pulled  in  and  left  protruding  from  the  outlet  until  the 
switch  can  be  connected  they  are  necessarily  handled  to  some 
extent,  and  thereby  tend  to  break  away  the  plaster. 

The  method  in  detail  follows:  First,  cut  the  outlet  hole  the 
exact  size  of  the  box;  second,  make  up  conductors  of  the  proper 
length,  connect  them  to  the  switch  and  cover  them  with  circular 
loom;  third,  drop  a  mouse  into  the  hole  from  above,  attach  it  to 
the  wires,  and  pull  in  the  entire  unit  consisting  of  switch,  steel 
switch  box,  conductors  and  loom.  The  wires  will  draw  the 
switch  and  its  outlet  box  into  place.  The  box  is  fastened  in 
position  with  wood  screws  and  the  free  ends  of  the  conductors 
are  soldered  to  their  proper  connections. 

287.  A  method  of  installing  a  wall  switch  box  when  the  use 
of  screws  alone  does  not  insure  substantial  support  is  shown  by 
Fig.  162.     Flat-headed  screws  driven  into  the  laths-  of  a  plastered 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


209 


wall  often  permit  the  switch  box  to  become  loosened  within  the 
outlet  hole.  In  such  cases  wooden  cleats  should  be  introduced 
into  the  space  within  the  partition  and  wooden  screws  driven 
through  them  as  shown  in  the  figure.  The  conduit  for  the 
switch  having  been  made  up,  the  box  is  then  secured  to  the  block 
by  flat-headed  wooden  screws  which  pass  through  the  lugs  in  the 
box  provided  for  them. 


Wires  and  Loom 
being  pulled  in 


Switch  with  Wires 
Connected. 


FIG.  161. — Method  of  pulling  in 
switch  box. 


FIG.    162. — One    method  of  mount- 
ing a  partition  switch  box. 


RUNNING  CONDUCTORS  TO  CENTER  OUTLETS 

288.  Fishing  to  Ceiling  or  Center  Outlets.  Almost  invariably 
the  joists  are  run  parallel  to  the  street.  If  the  house  is  one  with 
a  side  or  center  hall  on  the  second  floor,  the  circuits  can  be  run 
the  length  of  the  hall,  necessitating  the  removal  of  two  boards, 
as  shown  in  Fig.  26,  for  that  distance.  Wires  can  then  be  fished 
from  the  centers  of  the  rooms  below  by  cutting  small  holes  at  the 
chandelier  locations,  Fig.  163,  or  by  cutting  a  pocket  in  the  floor 
directly  above  the  location  of  each  chandelier  outlet.  If  it  is 
necessary  to  take  up  the  floor  boards  of  the  hall  at  some  distance 
from  the  partitions  of  the  story  below,  other  pockets  must 

14 


210 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


be  made  close  to  the  partitions,  in  order  to  drop  the  switch  loops, 
and  to  get  through  to  the  other  side  of  the  building.  This  is 
usually  necessary  when  the  hall  is  in  the  center,  with  the  rooms  to 
be  wired  on  each  side. 

If  there  is  no  hall  on  the  second  floor,  the  boards  can  be  taken 
up  through  the  door-ways,  and  the  wires  dropped  to  the  switches, 
outlets,  and  to  the  tablet  board  very  readily.  (See  illustrations 
in  chapter  on  "Examples  of  Installations.")  Where  there  are 
hardwood  floors,  the  wires  must  be  fished  from  the  center  of  the 


„    ,     ,  ''-  Lath  and 

Outlet  Hole  Plaster 

Ceiling 


FIG.  163. — Fishing  from  a  ceiling  or  center  outlet  to  a  pocket. 


room  below  to  a  closet  in  the  story  above,  or  to  a  point  where  the 
baseboard  can  be  removed  so  as  to  get  into  a  partition  going 
either  up  or  down.  In  many  cases,  it  is  necessary  to  drop  to  the 
cellar,  and  then  come  up  again  in  another  location  for  the  switch 
loop.  Where  this  is  necessary,  the  most  convenient  place  for  the 
tablet  board  is  in  the  cellar. 

289.  Reaching  a  Ceiling  Outlet  Located  under  a  Parquetry 
Wood  Border.  Frequently,  as  shown  in  Fig.  164,  there  is  a 
soft-wood  center  to  the  floor.  Where  there  is,  a  pocket  can  be 
cut  in  this  soft-wood  portion  and  the  outlet  can  be  reached  from 
the  pocket  by  the  application  of  a  pipe-extension  boring  tool 
similar  to  that  described  elsewhere.  The  pipe  sections  for  a 
boring  tool  for  this  work  must  be  somewhat  shorter  than  the  dis- 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


211 


tance  between  adjacent  joists.  The  holes  through  the  joists  to 
the  pocket  can  be  bored  diagonally  as  AB,  Fig.  164,  or  they  can  be 
bored  at  right  angles  to  the  joists  as  DC.  Where  they  are  bored 
diagonally,  directly  toward  the  outlet,  a  chalk-line  should  be  drawn 
on  the  floor  surface,  from  the  pocket  to  a  point  directly  over  the 
outlet,  to  assist  in  guiding  the  bit  in  the  correct  direction.  The 
bit  will  actually  follow  a  curved  course  as  shown  by  the  dashed 
line  due  to  the  offsets  that  occur  when  the  bit  passes  from  one 
joist  to  another  and  allowance  should  be  made  for  this  when 
starting  it  into  the  first  joist. 


-Outlet 

in  Ceiling 

below  Floor 
Course  of  Bit 


FIG.  164. — Plan  of  corner  of  room  having  a  parquetry  floor  showing  method  of 
reaching  outlet  in  ceiling  below. 

Although,  when  a  wireway  has  been  bored  diagonally  direct 
to  the  outlet,  the  snake  can  be  easily  pushed  to  the  outlet  through 
a  pipe  guide — the  pipe  sections  of  the  boring  tool  are  used  for  a 
guide — (see  273),  there  are  disadvantages  to  the  method.  The 
bit  may  encounter  bridges  or  nails  which  will  block  the  path. 
It  is  usually  preferable  to  bore  the  holes  through  the  joists 
approximately  at  right  angles  as  indicated  by  DC.  When  this 
is  done,  bridging  and  nails  can,  usually,  be  avoided.  The  snake 
is  then  pushed  along  the  path  DCB.  So  that  the  snake  will 
readily  take  the  turn  at  C  toward  B  the  holes  DC  should  be  slanted 
somewhat  toward  B. 


212 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


290.  A  method  of  wiring  from  a  partition  outlet  to  a  ceiling 
outlet  or  a  pocket  without  disturbing  baseboard  or  floor  is  shown 
in  Fig.  165.  The  molding  trim  is  removed  and  a  hole,  so  located 

that  it  will  not  show  when  the 
trim  is  replaced,  is  dug  in  the 
plaster.  Then  through  this  hole, 
diagonally  downward  so  as  to 
pass  through  the  floor  within 
the  partition,  a  hole  is  bored 
with  a  large  Syracuse  twist  bit 
or  a  ship  auger.  The  wireman 
can  readily  fish  from  the  outlet 
hole  in  the  partition  to  the  hole 
bored  back  of  the  molding  trim. 
In  many  cases  the  run  can  be 
fished  from  the  hole  back  of  the 
molding  trim  to  a  ceiling  outlet 

pocket.     It    is    also    sometimes 
FIG.  165.  —  Method  of  wiring  from  .U1  ~  ,      r  ,,       ,     , 

a  partition  outlet  to  a  ceiling  outlet  Possible    to    fish     from    the    hole 
or  a  pocket  without  disturbing  base-  over  to  and  down  inside  of    an 

outer  wall,  in  a  wooden  house, 
following  the  method  described  in  265. 


*C9//if*9 


^Moulding 
/'  Trim 


-Base  Board 


MISCELLANEOUS  METHODS        Ovtlef 

291.  A  method  of  running  con- 
ductors from  a  floor  pocket  to 
a  partition  above  without  disturb- 
ing the  baseboard  is  illustrated 
in  Fig.  166.  The  quarter-round 
in  the  angle  between  the  base- 
board and  the  floor  is  first  taken 
up.  This  is  accomplished  by 
punching  the  nails  through  with 
a  nail  set  (see  221).  Then  a  hole, 
1/4  or  5/8  in.  in  diameter,  is  bored  tion  above  without  disturbing  base- 
through  the  floor  to  provide  a 

starting  place  for  a  compass  saw.     A   length  of  floor   board 
is  then  taken  up,  making  a  floor  pocket.     A  hole  is  bored  up- 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION  213 

wardly  from  this  pocket  through  the  floor  with  the  door-knob 
bit  (Fig.  113)  as"  shown  in  Fig.  166.  This  hole  being  bored, 
the  route  from  the  pocket  to  the  outlet  hole  is  complete.  The 
floor  board  should  be  replaced  in  accordance  with  the  method 
illustrated  in  Fig.  104  and  described  in  an  accompanying 
paragraph. 

292.  Drills  for  piercing  brick  are  shown  in  Fig.  167.  The 
simplest  to  construct  and  probably  the  most  useful  of  these  tools 
is  shown  at  A  .  This  drill  is  made  by  cutting  off  at  an  angle  an 
ordinary  piece  of  iron  pipe  or  conduit,  of  the  same  diameter  as  the 
hole  to  be  drilled.  This  tool  tends  to  break  away  less  of  the 
material  of  the  wall  at  the  outside  of  the  hole  than  do  most  other 
drills.  The  star  drill,  C,  is  a  commercial  article  and  can  be 
purchased  at  hardware  stores.  A  good  drill  of  the  form  shown 
at  B  can  be  made  by  the  wireman  with  a  three-cornered  file  by 


Iron  Pipe 


Filed          ^  p.     orConciujf 


Saw  Tooth  Pipe  Drill. 


Slanting  End  Pipe  Drill.  .         '-r~^    ^feel  Drill  Rod 

Star  Drill. 
FIG.  167. — Drills  for  boring  brick. 

cutting  teeth  in  one  end  of  a  piece  of  conduit.  An  extra  heavy 
steel  pipe  which  can  be  obtained  at  any  plumbers'  supply  house 
will  make  a  more  serviceable  tool.  For  general  work  in  reason- 
ably soft  walls  the  pipe  drill  is  preferable  to  the  star  drill.  The 
cutting  edges  of  the  star  drill  frequently  break  off,  rendering  it 
useless,  and  sometimes  obstruct  the  hole.  In  deep  holes  the  pipe 
drill  "clears"  itself  much  more  effectively  than  the  other. 

To  drill  through  soft  brick  or  "adobe,"  which  is  much  used 
in  the  South,  a  common  bit  may  be  used  in  a  brace  after  the  feed 
screw  or  screw  point  has  been  filed  off.  This  will  make  a  clean 
smooth  hole  and  will  not  break  away  the  material  of  the  wall  as 
is  likely  to  be  the  case  when  a  pounded  tool  is  used.  An  old, 
much- worn  bit  should  be  used  for  this  purpose  as  its  cutting  edges 
are  worn  and  it  is  valueless  for  any  other  purpose. 

293.  Soldering  Connections  in  Finished-building  Wiring.  An 
alcohol  torch  is  best,  chiefly  for  the  reason  that  a  wireman  can 


214 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


solder  each  joint  as  he  makes  it  and  thus  be  sure  that  none  is  left 
unsoldered.  A  gasoline  blow  torch  is  not  as  good  for  the  work; 
first,  because  it  requires  too  much  time  to  start  the  flame  and 
secondly,  because  the  flame  is  so  intense  there  is  constant  danger 
of  fire  from  ignited  dust  or  chips  falling  into  partitions.  Satis- 
factory work  can  be  done  with  a  soldering  copper  heated  by  a 
blow  torch  or  a  gas  stove,  but  it  is  not  feasible  always  to  keep 
it  in  readiness  for  immediate  use.  Fig.  168  shows  an  alcohol  torch 
of  satisfactory  design  which  costs  about  a  dollar.  Wood  alcohol, 
purchasable  at  any  drug  store,  is  the  fuel.  It  is  possible,  using 
wire  solder,  to  make  a  soldered  splice  in  conductors  as  large  as 

No.  4  B.  &  S.  gage  with  a  torch 
like  that  shown  in  Fig.  168.  An 
alcohol  torch  is  seldom  satisfac- 
tory for  conductors  larger  than 
No.  6,  and  then  a  gasoline  blow 
torch  must  be  used.  With  an 
alcohol  torch  it  is  not  necessary 

to  use   the  air  blast  for   small 
FIG.  I68.-A  satisfactory  type  of     wires>  but  with   larger    sizeg   the 

hot  flame  needed  can  be  ob- 
tained by  blowing  through  the  rubber  tube.  The  blow-pipe 
tube  can  be  adjusted  vertically  to  compensate  for  the  burning 
away  of  the  wick  and  to  change  the  size  of  the  blast  flame. 


Hole  for  Blast,, 

Wick 

Unscrews  here 
for  filling 


Vtfkrmbbob 


Plan  View.  Sectional  Elevation. 

FIG.  169. — Locating  center  of  ceiling. 

294.  A  convenient  method  of  locating  the  center  of  a  ceiling, 

preparatory  to  installing  a  ceiling  fixture,  is  shown  in  Fig.  169. 
The  wireman  measures  the  length  and  width  of  the  room,  on 


TOOLS  AND  MANIPULATION 


215 


the  floor,  as  indicated  by  A,  A',  B  and  J3',  and  locates  the  room 
center  C  on  the  floor.  Then  with  a  plumb  bob  the  point  C  is 
transferred  to  the  ceiling,  as  shown  at  C'  in  the  sectional  eleva- 
tion of  the  figure.  Where  there  are  two  men  on  a  job,  a  string 
can  be  used  for  locating  the  room  center,  but  where  there  is  but 
one  man  the  above  method  involving  the  use  of  a  rule  is  the  best. 

Wood  Top  floor 


;'•  •'•'.'•'••  Cinder 


FIG.  1 70. — Wire  installed  beneath  cinder  floor. 

295.  Wiring  Buildings  with  Cinder-filled  Floors.  A  wire- 
man  will  occasionally  encounter  a  floor  partly  filled  with  cinders 
between  the  joists,  Fig.  170.  Floors  are  seldom  built  in  this  way 
now,  but  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago  the  construction  was  common 
in  the  better  class  of  residences  and  business  buildings.  The 
cinder  filling  was  intended  to  prevent  the  transmission  of  sound 
from  one  floor  to  another  and  to  stop  the  ravages  of  rats. 


°>V/I_                     One  Bridge  Board                        Cinder  Fi/ling 
^s's^                         Removed--*^                             Removed^ 

v      ^'-"  ^  "  '  » 

^=1 

N 

^5     \ 

J 

r- 

- 

<  Holes  "for  Tubes  7 

>v 

F             ^ 

^-Piaster 
FIG.  171. — Boring  tube  holes  through  joists. 

In  running  circuits  beneath  such  a  floor  the  wireman  can 
take  out  some  of  the  cinders  after  removing  the  floor  boards 
parallel  to  the  run.  Only  enough  cinders  should  be  taken  out 
between  each  pair  of  joists  to  expose  a  complete  "bridge"  board 
so  that  it  can  be  pried  out.  The  bridge  board  out  of  the  way, 
the  holes  for  the  tubes,  or  for  flexible  conduit  if  such  is  used,  are 


216  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

bored  below  the  cleats  with  a  long  bit.  The  latter  type  is  nec- 
essary because  one  of  ordinary  length  cannot  be  used,  owing 
to  insufficient  working  room.  If  a  long  bit  is  not  at  hand,  one 
can  be  made  by  having  a  blacksmith  weld  a  shank  of  the  necessary 
length,  possibly  30-in.,  to  an  ordinary  carpenter's  bit.  Fig.  171 
illustrates  the  conditions  that  prevail  while  the  joists  are  being 
bored. 

After  the  porcelain  tubes  have  been  inserted  and  the  wire 
threaded  through  them,  or  after  the  flexible  conduit  has  been 
run  through  the  holes,  the  bridge  pieces  may  be  nailed  in  place. 
The  cinders  may  then  be  scraped  back  and  the  top  floor  boards 
relaid.  Fig.  170  illustrates  a  sectional  view  of  a  finished  job. 


CHAPTER  X 

EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 
INSTALLATIONS  WITHOUT  PANEL  BOXES 

296.  The  Wiring  of  a  Finished  Frame  Building  by  the  Knob 
and  Tube  Method.  It  is  the  object  of  this  description  to  outline 
in  detail  the  procedure  followed  and  the  methods  used  in  the  recent 
wiring  of  a  seven-room,  frame  residence  that  was  erected  about 
twelve  years  ago.  The  floor  plans  of  the  building  are  shown 
in  the  accompanying  illustrations.  The  installation  is  typical 
of  many  that  are  now  being  made  throughout  this  country  and 
of  many,  many  more  that  must  be  made  before  the  field  that  is 
now  available  to  the  central  stations  is  saturated. 

The  desideratum  in  this  instance,  as  is  frequently  the  case 
with  frame  buildings  of  the  type  illustrated,  was  to  get  a  fairly 
good  electric  lighting  system  in  the  house.  It  was  piped  for  gas 
when  built,  but  the  owner  had  difficulty  in  renting  it  without 
electric  lighting.  He  put  in  the  simplest  possible  electric  outfit 
and  omitted  all  frills. 

It  was  decided  to  install  flush  wall  switches  for  the  princi- 
pal rooms  only.  The  living-room,  library  and  dining-room 
were  to  have  them  but  the  kitchen,  bedrooms  and  bathroom 
were  to  be  provided  with  pull-socket  fixtures.  The  two  hall 
lights,  one  up-stairs  and  one  down,  were  to  be  controlled  by  two 
flush,  three-way  switches,  one  located  in  the  first-story  hall 
and  the  other  in  the  second  story  at  the  head  of  the  stairs.  For 
the  cellar  one  porcelain  key  socket  was  to  be  provided,  controlled 
by  a  surface  wall  switch  in  the  cellar  stair  entry.  A  porch 
light,  baseboard  outlets  and  the  like  were  omitted  to  mini- 
mize cost  but  provision  was  made  for  ultimately  placing  them 
with  little  difficulty  providing  conditions  necessitated  their 
installation. 

Fig.  172  is  a  perspective  view  of  the  residence  and  Figs.  173, 
174  and  175  show  respectively  floor  plans  of  the  basement  and 

217 


218 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


FIG.  172. — Exterior  view  of  building  that  was  wired. 

first  and  second  floors.  Fig.  176,  an  isometric  view,  delineates 
with  reasonable  accuracy  the  arrangement  of  the  entire  installa- 
tion. This  illustration  is  not  quite  correct  in  certain  minor  par- 


Porcelain 

Socket. 


Risers  from 
Second  Floor^ 


r 

.-5  male-  Pole  Switch         >  • 1 

J**T ;          at  Cellar  Stairs         \J~~ 


FIG.  173. — Floor  plan  of  basement  and  also  wiring  in  basement  ceiling. 
(Dotted  lines  show  locations  of  partitions  on  first  floor.) 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


219 


ticulars,  which  will  be  indicated  later,  because  it  could  not  be 
made  strictly  accurate  without  confusing  complications  in 
drawing. 


Meter-- 
Entrance Switch  ' 


Cellar  Stairs  •' 
*~- Service  Wires 
Entrance 


FIG.  174. — Floor  plan  of  the  first  story  and  also  wiring  in  the  first  story 
ceiling  and  partitions.  (Light  dotted  lines  show  locations  of  partitions  of 
second  story.  Heavy  dotted  lines  indicate  where  boards  of  second  floor  were 
taken  up  to  make  pockets.) 


FIG.  175. — Floor  plan  of  second  story  and  also  wiring  in  attic  and  in  second 

story  partitions. 

The  first  step  was  to  carefully  survey  the  residence.     It  was 
discovered  by  probing  with  a  mouse  that  a   vertical    raceway, 


220 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


indicated  at  A  in  Figs.  173,  174  and  175,  sufficiently  large  to  ac- 
commodate several  conductors,  extended  from  the  basement  ceil- 
ing to  the  roof.  This  was  obviously  the  logical  location  for  the 
risers.  It  was  found  that  there  were  no  obstructions  in  the 
attic,  that  it  had  no  floor  and  that  from  it  the  entire  ceiling  of  the 
second  story  was  available.  This  facilitated  the  installation  of 
the  principal  part  of  the  work  on  that  floor.  The  floor  boards 
of  the  second  floor  ran  lengthwise  of  the  building  and  enough  of 


Attic 


FIG.  176. — Isometric  view  of  entire  installation. 

them  were  taken  up  to  indicate  that  a  branch  circuit  could  be 
readily  carried  within  the  first-story  ceiling,  the  length  of  the 
house,  as  outlined  in  Fig.  174,  to  serve  the  wiring  for  the  first 
story.  The  selection  of  the  routes  for  the  conductors  for  the 
two  hall  lights,  one  on  the  first  and  one  on  the  second  story, 
and  for  the  three-way  switches  controlling  them  gave  some 
trouble.  Finally,  however,  after  cutting  a  couple  of  exploring 
pockets,  one  in  a  closet,  B  Fig.  175,  and  the  other  in  the  incon- 
spicuous corner  C,  the  wire  route  shown  was  determined. 

The  general  lay-out  of  the  wire  routes  having  been  determined, 
the  next  move  was  to  locate  the  point  of  entrance  of  the  con- 
ductors into  the  building  and  the  best  location  for  the  meter  and 
the  entrance  switch.  As  shown  in  Figs.  174  and  176,  the  entrance 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


221 


was  made  near  the  rear  of  the  house  into  the  back  hall.  The 
local  central-station  company  specifies  that  the  interior  wiring 
between  the  point  of  entrance  and  the  meter  shall  be  as  short  as 
possible  and  also  that  the  meter  be  placed  where  it  will  be  clean 
and  dry  and  where  it  can  be  easily  inspected  and  read.  The  rear 
hall  location  satisfied  all  of  these  requirements.  The  actual  ar- 
rangement of  the  equipment  about  the  point  of  entrance  is  de- 


Clapboardincj  ^  Bracked 

JC 


.  Glas$  Insulator 


-.Service 
Wires 


Section  A-A 


Circuit  Circuit . 


No.  I.      No.  2. 

-rHHt 


Meter-— 


Branch 
Slocks 


Loom  Encased 
Conductors 


Elevation. 
FIG.  177. — Method  of  installing  service  switch  meter,  and  branch  blocks. 

tailed  in  Fig.  177.  This  portion  of  the  job  was  very  quickly 
placed  because  the  interior  of  the  rear  hall  had  never  been  finished. 
The  outside  wall  at  this  point  consisted  merely  of  clapboarding 
nailed  to  2-in.  X  4-in.  studs.  The  loom-encased  entrance  wires 
were  brought  into  the  hall  and  to  the  entrance  switch  each 
through  a  5/8-in.  hole  bored  through  the  clapboarding.  A  vertical 
cleat  was  nailed  to  the  face  of  each  of  two  adjacent  studs  (see 
Fig.  177)  and  to  these  cleats  were  spiked  two  boards.  One  was 


222  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

for  mounting  the  meter  and  branch-blocks  and  the  other  was  for 
the  entrance  switch.  To  comply  with  Code  rules,  the  fused  en- 
trance switch  was  so  mounted  that  the  fuses  protect  the  switcrT 
and  so  that  gravity  tends  to  open  the  switch  blades  rather  than 
to  close  them. 

The  entrance  switch  is  of  the  porcelain-base,  knife-blade  type 
and  is  provided  with  receptacles  for  Edison-plug*  cut  outs.  The 
price  of  a  switch  of  30  amp.  capacity,  the  size  used,  is  50  cents. 
From  the  inner  side  of  the  entrance  switch,  the  conductors  pass 
to  the  meter  and  from  the  meter  to  the  branch-blocks,  which,  in 
this  installation,  constitute  the  distributing  center.  Where  there 
was  any  possibility  of  the  conductors  coming  closer  together  than 
the  minimum  distances  specified  by  the  Code,  they  were  encased  in 
loom.  It  is  cheaper,  in  a  confined  situation  of  the  sort  illustrated 
in  Fig.  177,  to  entirely  cover  the  conductors  with  flexible  tubing  or 
loom  than  it  is  to  use  tubing  on  part  of  the  wiring  and  support 
the  balance  on  porcelain. 

Another  feature  that  was  considered  before  much  work  was  done 
was  the  assigning  of  the  different  outlets  to  branch  circuits.  The 
question  was,  how  many  branch  circuits  should  be  used  and  what 
portion  of  the  building  should  each  branch  circuit  serve.  The 
Code  specifies  that  there  shall  not  be  more  than  sixteen  sockets, 
or  instead  a  capacity  of  660  watts*  of  incandescent  lamps  served 
by  any  one  cut  out.  In  the  installation  under  discussion  there 
are  exactly  sixteen  sockets  or,  assuming  that  a  40- watt  lamp  would 
be  used  in  each  socket,  the  total  load  would  be  16  X  40  =  640 
watts. 

Evidently,  it  would  have  been  permissible  to  have  connected 
all  sockets  in  the  building  to  one  branch  circuit  and  yet  have 
the  installation  meet  Code  requirements.  However,  if  this  had 
been  done  there  would  be  no  spare  capacity  to  accommodate  out- 
lets that  might  be  added  in  the  future  and  the  installing  of  an 
additional  branch  circuit  after  the  job  had  been  completed  and 
the  floor  openings  closed  would  be  very  expensive.  Hence,  it 
was  decided  to  provide  two  branch  circuits.  One  circuit  was  ar- 
ranged to  feed  the  second  story  and  part  of  the  first  and  the  other 
most  of  the  first  story.  The  cellar  light  was  connected  to  the 
branch  serving  the  second  story  because  in  the  second  story  there 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS  223 

are  seven  sockets  while  in  the  first  story  there  are,  including  the 
second-story  hall  light  which  must  be  fed  from  the  first-story 
branch,  nine.  Furthermore,  a  large  porportion  of  the  first-story 
lights  are  likely  to  burn  at  one  time,  whereas  this  is  not  so  apt  to 
be  true  of  the  second-story  lights.  The  kitchen  light  was  also 
connected  to  the  second-story  branch  to  further  lighten  the  load 
on  the  first-story  branch. 

Ordinary  two- wire,  porcelain  Edison-plug  cut  outs  costing  25 
cents  each  were  used  for  the  branch  blocks  as  indicated  in  Fig. 
177.  Edison-plug  fuses  of  10  amp.  capacity  were  used  for  the 
protection  of  each  wire.  Both  branch  circuits  were  of  No.  14 
rubber-covered  wire  and  the  wire  from  the  outside  of  the  building 
to  the  entrance  switch  was  No.  10. 

Frequently,  as  in  this  installation,  it  is  desirable  to  locate  the 
distribution  center  at  a  point  near  the  center  of  the  building  that 
is  served.  In  the  case  being  considered  it  would  have  cost  more 
to  have  located  it  near  the  center  of  the  building  and  the  desirable 
feature  of  having  the  distribution  center  near  the  entrance  switch 
would  have  been  lost. 

In  installing  the  wiring  for  the  first-story  lights  (Fig.  174)  the 
first  operation  was  to  remove  three  floor  boards  of  the  second  floor 
the  entire  length  of  the  building,  as  indicated  in  Fig.  174.  The 
course  of  this  long  pocket  was  so  selected  that  it  passed  directly 
over  the  living-room  electrolier  outlet,  rendering  the  cutting  of  a 
separate  pocket  for  this  outlet  unnecessary.  The  pocket  passed 
through  the  doorway  at  D  but  under  the  partition  at  E.  Pockets 
were  cut  over  the  library  and  dining-room  outlets  and  the  tap 
conductors  for  them  were  readily  fished  between  the  joists  to  the 
branch  conductors  in  the  long  pocket.  These  branch  conductors, 
extending  the  length  of  the  second-story  floor,  were  threaded 
through  tubes  resting  in  holes  in  the  joists.  The  tap  conductors 
to  the  outlets  were  supported  on  porcelain  knobs  held  to  the  faces 
of  the  joists  with  nails  driven  through  leather  washers  and  then 
into  the  knobs. 

For  carrying  the  wires  to  the  two  single-pole  flush  switches  for 
the  library  and  dining-room  lights  respectively,  it  was  nec- 
essary to  cut  a  pocket  over  the  partition  between  the  dining-room 
and  the  library.  The  conductors  were  carried  down  within  the 


224  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

partition  in  circular  loom.  The  outlet  for  the  living-room 
electrolier  was  wired  from  the  long  pocket,  and  its  single-pole 
flush  switch  was  wired  by  cutting  a  pocket  over  the  partition 
between  the  hall  and  the  living-room.  The  method  of  getting 
the  conductors  to  the  hall  lights  and  to  the  three-way  switches 
controlling  them  will  be  described  later. 

All  of  the  wiring  for  the  second-story  outlets,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  that  for  the  hall  light,  was  placed  with  little  difficulty. 
One  of  the  branch  circuits  from  the  distribution  center  was  con- 
tinued as  a  riser  from  the  point  A,  Fig.  174,  in  the  first-story  ceiling 
to  point  A,  Fig.  175,  in  the  attic  over  the  second  story.  Then  the 
branch  was  extended  horizontally  almost  the  length  of  the  build- 
ing— far  enough  to  tap  the  outlet  for  the  front  chamber.  In 
the  attic  the  conductors  were  supported  on  the  joists  on  split 
porcelain  knobs  held  in  position  with  nails.  The  attic  could  be 
entered  by  a  trap-door  in  the  bathroom  ceiling  and  there  was 
ample  space  in  it  for  the  wireman  to  move  about  and  do  his 
work. 

Although  the  method  of  wiring  for  the  hall  lights  and  of  con- 
necting the  two  three-way  switches  controlling  them  is  shown  in 
the  floor  plans  and  in  the  isometric  view,  it  is  better  illustrated  in 
the  detail  of  Fig.  178.  It  will  be  noted  from  a  study  of  the  floor 
plans  that  it  was  not  feasible  to  route  the  conductors  required 
for  these  lights  and  switches  along  as  short  a  path  as  would  have 
been  possible  with  a  job  in  a  building  under  erection.  An  in- 
spection of  the  construction  of  the  residence  disclosed  that  the 
most  economical  wiring  would  be  as  suggested  in  Fig.  178.  The 
conductors  for  the  first- story,  three-way  switch  were  carried 
down  from  the  ceiling  within  the  partition  encased  in  circular 
loom.  Then  all  of  the  conductors  were  carried,  encased  in  loom, 
within  another  partition  between  the  second-story  floor  and  its 
ceiling  (Figs.  174,  175  and  178)  and  then  the  three  conductors 
for  the  second-story,  three-way  switch  were  carried  back  down 
still  another  partition.  The  reason  for  adopting  this  routing  is 
not  altogether  obvious  from  Fig.  174  because  parts  of  it  are  not 
drawn  quite  to  scale.  Actually  the  downstairs  hall  light  is  so 
close  to  the  pocket  C  (Fig.  174)  that  its  outlet  was  readily  wired 
from  C.  Also,  the  bottom  of  the  partition,  in  which  the  four 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


225 


risers  to  the  attic  are  installed,  is  available  from  C.  Hence  it  was 
easier  and  cheaper  to  carry  all  of  the  hall -light  wiring  up  inside 
the  partition  at  C  and  then  bring  the  switch  wires  back  down  again 
in  partition  F  than  it  was  to  carry  the  conductors  over  to  F, 
within  the  first-story  ceiling,  which  would  necessitate  cutting 


Taps  to  Branch 
Circuit5u> 

Electricity. 


First  Floor 
Hall  Light 

Lath  and  Plaster'1 


FIG.  178. — Detail  of  wiring  for  hall  lights  with   three-way  switches. 

another  pocket  in  the  second-story  floor  under  F  and  the  removal 
of  more  floor  boards.  The  conductors  for  the  hall-light  wiring 
were  encased  in  circular  loom  within  the  partitions.  In  ceiling 
spaces  they  were  carried  by  knobs  and  tubes  and  in  the  attic 
they  were  supported  on  porcelain  split  knobs  nailed  to  the  joists. 
For  illuminating  the  cellar  only  one  porcelain  socket  was  in- 

15 


226  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

stalled  initially.  It  was  located  midway  between  the  furnace 
and  the  coal  bin.  The  tap  circuit  for  the  cellar  light  was  con- 
nected to  its  branch  at  the  point  A,  Fig.  174,  in  the  little  attic 
over  the  kitchen  and  the  riser  was  dropped  down  within  the 
partition  A  to  the  cellar  where  the  tap  was  carried  to  the  socket 
and  to  the  surface  wall  switch  located  in  the  cellar  stairway,  as  in- 
dicated in  the  basement  wiring  plan,  Fig.  173.  As  previously 
suggested,  the  cellar  light  was  connected  to  the  upstairs  branch 
circuit.  The  connection  was  effected  at  the  point  A  (Fig.  174) 
because  there  was  a  straight  runway,  that  had  been  left  by  the 
house  builder,  direct  to  the  cellar  from  this  point.  This  route 
could  be  followed  without  any  boring  or  cutting,  hence  the  loom- 
encased  risers  were  drawn  into  it.  In  the  cellar  the  wires  were 
run  at  right  angles  to  the  joists,  and  were  threaded  through  holes 
that  were  bushed  with  porcelain  tubes.  Where  running  parallel 
to  the  joists  the  wires  were  supported  by  split  knobs  nailed  to  the 
joist  faces.  Where  the  conductors  were  carried  up  within  the 
partition  to  the  surface  wall  switch  they  were  encased  in  loom. 

The  isometric  view  of  Fig.  176  is  included  to  give  a  general  idea 
of  how  the  wiring  for  the  entire  installation  was  routed  and  of 
how  it  was  connected.  This  isometric  view  is  not  quite  correct 
in  certain  details  because  making  it  correct  would  have  con- 
siderably involved  the  drawing.  The  points  that  are  in  error 
are  these:  (i)  The  basement  branch  circuit  actually  connects  to 
the  second-story  branch  circuit  near  the  point  where  the  kitchen 
light  taps  off  instead  of  at  the  branch-block  as  shown  by  the  draw- 
ing. (2)  The  routing  for  the  wiring  for  the  hall  lights  and  their 
switches  is  actually  arranged  as  shown  in  the  floor  plans  and  in 
Fig.  178,  instead  of  as  indicated  in  the  isometric  view,  although  the 
circuit  of  the  isometric  view  is  correct. 

The  installation  was  made  by  a  local  electrical  contractor. 
His  price  for  roughing  in,  that  is,  for  the  job  complete  with 
switches  but  without  fixtures,  was  $48.  This  is  at  the  rate  of 
$3  an  outlet,  counting  each  switch  and  lighting  fixture  position 
as  an  outlet.  The  work  required  the  time  of  a  wireman  and 
one  helper  for  two  days  and  netted  a  comfortable  profit  for  the 
contractor. 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


227 


Dining  RoornHfl  Hall  |i-'viri9 


Cross       Section 


Porch 


Kitchen 


Dining  Room 


Two- Light  c1 
Fix  tuns  ° 


Fi  rst       Floo  r  . 


Second   Floor. 
FIG.  179. — Wiring  a  small  frame  building. 


228  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

297.  Example  of  Wiring  a  Small  Frame  Building.  Frame 
houses  present  the  easiest  field  for  finished-house  wiring,  inas- 
much as  the  spaces  in  the  outside  walls  can  be  used  for  wire  run- 
ways, and  outlets  can  readily  be  cut  in  the  outside  walls.  Where 
outside  walls  are  of  brick  it  is  usually  very  difficult  to  install  out- 
lets in  them  without  doing  considerable  damage,  unless  the  walls 
are  furred. 

Fig.  179  shows  the  cross-section  and  first-  and  second-story 
plans  of  a  typical  five-room  finished  frame  house  and  the  methods 
used  in  wiring  it.  Referring  to  the  cross-section,  the  wires  enter 
at  the  rear  of  the  kitchen  and  pass  through  the  wall  to  the  main 
fuse-block,  the  point  of  entrance  being  determined  in  any 
case  by  the  location  of  the  nearest  available  tapping-in  point  on 

the  pole  line  and  by  the  location 
of  the  meter.    It  is  always  de- 
sirable to  locate  the  meter  as  near 
the  entrance  as  feasible,  mak- 
ing  the   unmetered   run  within 
FIG.  1 80.— Second  story  plan  of  a  the    house    very    short.     From 
house  showing  floor  boards  removed  tne    fuse-block     the    wires    pass 
in  one  continuous  line.  ... 

within  the  wall  to  the  meter  and 

thence  again  within  the  wall  to  the  main  switch.  Leaving  the 
main  switch,  the  conductors  rise  within  the  wall,  forming  the 
distributing  circuit  for  the  house. 

In  the  case  of  a  small  house,  such  as  that  shown  in  Fig.  179, 
the  total  connected  load  is  less  than  660  watts,  and  so  no  branch 
cut  outs  are  necessary.  The  one  cut  out  at  the  point  of  en- 
trance serves  for  the  whole  house.  Fig.  179  indicates  how  the 
wiring  to  the  switches  and  fixtures  is  concealed  within  floors, 
walls  and  partitions.  It  seldom  is  necessary  to  expose  any  wire 
in  wiring  a  frame  house.  The  spaces  within  the  walls  of  a  frame 
house  are  rarely  " blocked;"  that  is,  they  are  seldom  obstructed 
with  bridges  or  timber.  Vertical  circuits  can,  therefore,  easily  be 
run  within  them. 

The  diagram  of  the  first  floor  shows  the  location  of  switches 
and  fixtures  for  that  floor.  The  second-story  plan  indicates  the 
routes  of  the  wires  serving  the  first-story  equipment  and  shows 
the  floor  boards  which  it  was  necessary  to  remove  to  run  the 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS  229 

wiring  through  and  between  the  joists.  The  methods  of  removing 
and  replacing  floor  boards  are  described  in  other  paragraphs. 
Where  floor  boards  must  be  removed  for  quite  a  distance  in  one 
continuous  line,  through  several  rooms,  it  is  best  to  select  an 
unobstructed  route  such  as  that  through  the  door-ways  in  the 
second-floor  plan.  If  a  route  is  selected  that  passes  under 
partitions  there  will  be  difficulty  in  getting  the  boards  up  without 
considerable  sawing.  Where  it  is  possible  and  feasible  to  remove 
the  floor  boards  in  a  continuous  line  it  can  be  done  as  shown  in 
Fig.  1 80.  In  any  case,  the  location  of  the  floor  boards  that  are 
removed  should  be  such  that  the  pocket  thus  formed  will  be 
accessible  from  a  maximum  number  of  outlets.  Frequently  only 
one  line  of  floor  boards  is  removed  as  shown  in  Fig.  180  and  all  of 
the  outlets  are  accessible  from  this  line. 

297a.  Description  of  the  Wiring  of  a  Two-story  and  Cellar 
Building  by  the  Knob  and  Tube  Method.  (This  is  abstracted 
from  an  article  by  T.  W.  Poppe  in  Electrical  World,  Feb.  4,  1909.) 
The  owner  desired  lamps  located  as  follows  (Fig.  i8o^4  shows 
floor  plans  of  the  building):  One  lamp  in  each  of  the  three 
divisions  comprising  the  cellar;  a  three-lamp  electrolier  in  the 
parlor;  a  similar  one  in  the  library  and  in  the  dining-room;  a 
two-lamp  electrolier  in  the  kitchen  and  a  lamp  on  flexible  cord 
in  the  pantry.  A  switch  was  to  be  located  in  the  pantry  to  control 
the  three  lamps  in  the  cellar.  A  one-lamp  fixture  was  to  be 
mounted  in  the  first-story  hall.  The  switch  for  controlling  this 
lamp  was  to  be  placed  in  the  corner  of  the  hall  near  the  door 
into  the  parlor  and  also  near  the  one  to  the  street  so  that  it  could 
be  conveniently  reached  from  either.  On  the  second  story  a 
one-lamp  bracket  was  to  be  placed  in  each  o!  the  five  bedrooms 
and  one  in  the  bathroom.  In  the  second-story  hall  a  flexible-cord 
and-socket  drop  lamp  was  so  placed  as  to  illuminate  the  entire 
room. 

A  total  of  twenty-four  lamps  was  installed.  To  satisfy  the 
Underwriters'  requirement,  which  limits  the  wattage  on  a  branch 
circuit  to  660,  the  lamp  outlets  were  so  apportioned  on  two  branch 
circuits  that  each  branch  circuit  served  twelve  sockets.  The  best 
arrangement,  all  things  considered,  appeared  to  be  to  connect  the 
outlets  for  the  parlor,  library,  dining-room,  and  hall  and  for  the 


230 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


two  brackets  in  the  front  bedroom  on  the  second  story,  to  one 
branch  circuit.  All  of  the  other  outlets  were  connected  to  the 
other  branch  circuit. 


Second    Floor. 


First    Floor. 


Co^l 

Co  1  d 
.Storage 

Fo  u  ndation 
of  Porch 

A 
General    Store 

Cellar. 
FIG.  1 80 A. — Floor  plans  of  building. 

Service  was  obtained  from  an  aerial  alternating-current  line, 
hence  the  entrance  was  made  in  the  attic.  The  service  switch 
and  cut  out,  the  meter  and  the  branch-blocks  were  located  at  this 
point. 

The  front  bedroom  brackets  were  then  located  and  a  pocket 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


231 


was  made  in  the  attic  floor  by  removing  a  floor  board  directly 
over  the  partition  upon  which  the  brackets  were  to  be  mounted. 
Through  the  2-in.  X  4-in.  ceiling  plate  (Fig.  i8o.£),  four  3/4-in. 
diameter  holes  were  bored.  Then  through  two  of  these  holes  a 
pipe  extension  boring  tool  (Fig.  114)  was  inserted  and  two  3/4-in. 
diameter  holes  were  bored  through  the  floor  plate  (Fig.  iSoB)  of 
the  second  floor.  (It  was  necessary  to  exercise  care  to  avoid 
slanting  the  bit  and  boring  through  the  lath  and  plaster  partition 
and  out  into  the  room.)  This  brought  the  bit  of  the  pipe-ex- 


•Insulators* 


Flexible     ,< 
Tubing*:- 


Plata 


7-Bracket  Outlet- 


"Floor  Plate 


Froni"  ElevorHon.  Section. 

FIG.  iSoB. — Method  of  wiring  a  switch  outlet. 

tension  tool  into  the  cavity  formed  by  the:  (i)  Joists  supporting 
the  second  floor,  (2)  the  lath  and  plaster  of  the  first-story  ceiling 
and  (3)  the  second-story  flooring.  Just  below  the  brackets,  in 
the  second-story  floor,  a  pocket  was  made  by  removing  a  couple 
of  lengths  of  floor  board.  This  pocket  afforded  access  to  the 
bit  in  the  end  of  the  pipe-extension  tool. 

As  it  was  necessary  to  draw  loom-encased,  rubber-insulated 
conductors  up  through  the  wire  ways  cut  by  the  pipe-extension 
tool,  a  length  of  carpenter's  chalk-line  was  attached  to  the  end  of 
the  bit.  It  was  first  tied  to  the  shank  of  the  bit  and  was  then 
wound  around  in  the  spirally  twisted  portion  down  to  the  screw 
or  "worm"  at  the  end  of  the  bit  where  it  was  again  attached  by 


232  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

means  of  a  couple  of  half  hitches.  This  was  done  as  each  vertical 
wireway  was  completed  with  the  pipe-extension  tool.  The  cord 
being  attached  to  the  bit  end,  the  pipe-extension  tool  was  with- 
drawn from  the  wireway  bringing  the  cord  with  it.  Through  the 
procedure  just  outlined  fishing  was  avoided  and  time  was  saved. 

To  each  of  the  cords  that  was  drawn  into  the  wireways,  cut  as 
above  described,  was  attached  a  single-braid,  rubber-insulated 
wire,  long  enough  to  reach  from  the  nearest  outlet  on  the  attic 
story  to  the  nearest  outlet  on  the  second  story.  The  wire  was 
then  drawn  upward  into  the  wireway  and  a  piece  of  flexible  tub- 
ing long  enough  to  encase  the  entire  wire  was  pushed  over  it. 

Code  rules  relating  to  the  installation  of  flexible  tubing  in 
partitions  are  specific.  It  must  be  in  one  continuous  piece 
from  support  to  support  or  from  outlet  to  outlet.  Through  the 
lath  and  plaster  of  the  partition  at  the  points  where  the  brackets 
were  to  be  located  2-in.  X  2-in.  holes  were  cut.  Then  through 
one  of  the  remaining  holes,  that  were  bored  in  the  ceiling  plate 
above,  a  rattan  snake  (Fig.  138)  was  pushed  and  the  hook  on 
the  end  of  the  snake  was  fished  out  at  one  of  the  bracket  outlet 
holes  in  the  partition.  A  piece  of  iron  wire  having  a  hook  at 
one  end  was  used  for  fishing  out  the  hook  of  the  snake. 

To  the  hook  of  the  rattan  snake  a  length  of  rubber-insulated 
wire  sufficiently  long  to  reach  the  nearest  support  overhead  was 
attached  and  drawn  upward  into  place.  Then  flexible  conduit 
or  loom  was  slipped  over  the  wire.  A  loom-encased  conductor 
was  arranged  similarly  in  the  other  remaining  wireway.  The 
loom  casing  was  in  each  case  long  enough  to  reach  from  the  last 
point  of  support  (the  porcelain  knob  on  the  joist  above)  to  a 
point  at  the  outlet  3  in.  from  the  surface  of  the  wall.  Fig.  iSoB 
shows  the  conductors  completely  installed. 

From  each  of  the  split  porcelain  knobs  in  the  attic  floor  space 
(A  and  A  of  Fig.  iSoB)  a  wire  was  drawn  between  the  joists  to 
the  second-story  hall  electrolier  outlet.  One  wire  was  carried 
down  to  the  switch  outlet  in  the  second-story  hall  and  then  from 
this  outlet  to  the  electrolier,  providing  the  loop  for  the  single- 
pole  switch  for  the  control  of  the  electrolier  lamp.  The  method 
of  wiring  from  the  attic  floor  to  this  hall-lamp-switch  outlet  was 
similar  to  that  followed  for  the  bracket  outlet  shown  in  Fig.  i&oB. 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


233 


Where  the  conductors  were  installed  in  floor  spaces  parallel  to 
beams  they  were  supported  on  porcelain  knobs  as  C  and  C,  Fig. 
i8oC.  The  wires  were  drawn  taut  so  that  there  would  be  no 
slack  to  make  contact  with  any  of  the  members  of  the  building. 
The  knobs  or  insulators  were  spaced  at  least  every  4  1/2  ft. 
between  centers  along  the  joists. 

In  wiring  to  the  ceiling  outlet  of  the  parlor  it  was  necessary  to 
cut  a  pocket  in  the  second-story  floor  directly  over  the  outlet. 
Two  wires  were  connected  to  the  wires  coming  from  the  attic  at 
points  B,  Fig.  180,8,  and  were  drawn  into  the  space  between  the 
joists  and  supported  as  indicated  in  Fig.  i8oC.  To  get  the  con- 
ductors to  the  center  of  the  room  it  was  necessary  to  bore  through 
the  joists.  The  conductors  were  then  drawn  through  the  holes 
which  had  been  previously  bushed  with  porcelain  tubes.  The 


Flooring 


-Board  '^Ceiling 

FIG.  i8oC. — Method  of  connecting  a  ceiling  outlet. 

holes  were  bored  large  enough  that  the  tubes  could  be  inserted  in 
them  without  force.  The  holes  were  given  a  slight  pitch  down- 
ward so  that  when  the  wire  was  drawn  taut  it  had  a  tendency 
to  bind  the  tubes  in  place. 

Fig.  i8oC  illustrates  the  method  used  for  connecting  a  ceil- 
ing outlet.  The  conductors  that  were  passed  through  the  ceil- 
ing were  connected  to  the  circuit  wires  and  fastened  by  means  of 
a  porcelain  insulator  at  each  wire.  Flexible  tubing,  extending 
from  the  insulating  support  to  a  point  3  in.  below  the  ceiling  sur- 
face, was  slipped  on  each  wire.  Before  the  outlet  holes  for  the 
tubing  were  bored  in  the  ceiling,  a  piece  of  board  or  cleat  was 
fastened,  as  shown,  between  the  joists  to  support  the  electrolier. 

The  other  rooms,  with  the  exception  of  those  in  the  cellar, 
were  wired  similarly.  The  cellar  ceiling  had  not  been  plastered 
hence  the  holes  through  the  joists  for  the  cellar-lamp  wires  were 
bored  from  the  cellar,  rendering  the  removal  of  flooring  unneces- 
sary. At  all  bracket  outlets  a  round  block  of  7/8-in.  board 
(Fig.  64)  was  fastened  to  support  the  brackets. 


234  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

INSTALLATIONS  WITH  A  PANEL  BOX 

298.  The  wiring  of  a  building  large  enough  to  justify  the  in- 
stallation of  a  panel  box  or  distribution  center  is  shown  in  Fig. 
181.  (See  paragraphs  starting  with  189  for  information  relating 
to  distribution  centers.)  The  main  difference  between  this  in- 
stallation and  that  shown  in  Fig.  179  is  that  it  has  four  branch 
circuits  instead  of  one.  The  branch  circuits  are  fed  from  the 


Wall 


:™W$%MWWK 

FIG.  181. — Wiring  where  a  panel  box  is  necessary. 

panel  box  located  in  the  second-story  hall— just  about  at  the 
center  of  the  building.  The  house  shown  in  Fig.  181  has  brick 
walls,  hence  inside  partitions  and  floors  were  used  for  runways 
for  the  conductors  because  of  the  difficulty  and  expense  of  carry- 
ing conductors  along  brick  walls  that  are  not  furred. 

298a.  Wiring  of  a  Three-story  City  Residence  with  Flexible 
Steel  Armored  Cable.    Fig.  182  shows  the  floor  plans  of  a  city 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


235 


Bed.    Room 

*      « 

W 

Storage 

Bed  Room 
W 

s, 

st 

f(f  "'ff'ff'fr<  fvf      1  —  fc 

B    G  d           ^                 1    YY 
"pf                                                                    c 

] 

Room   S,g      JljJIIIIIIIIIIIH      1 

Third     Story. 


Second  Story. 


First     Story.  Front-Steps 


K  i  t  c  h  e 

K 


W^ 

K          » 


vy 

Din!  ng  £(  Room     [|     ^ 


w 


B  asement. 
FIG.  182. — Floor  plans  of  three  story  and  basement  brick  residence. 


236  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

residence  that  was  wired  throughout  with  steel  armored  cable,  with 
the  exception  of  the  run  from  the  extrance  to  the  panel  box  which 
was  in  flexible  metallic  conduit.  The  front  wall  is  of  brick  faced 
with  brown  stone.  The  rear  and  the  side,  party  walls,  are  of 
brick.  With  buildings  of  this  type,  adjoining  buildings  frequently 
abut.  This  is  the  condition  with  the  residence  illustrated  which 
accounts  for  the  absence  of  windows  in  the  side  walls.  The 
partitions  are  lath  and  plaster  throughout.  The  front  and  rear 
walls  and  the  ceilings  are  furred. 

In  wiring  the  building  it  was  necessary  to  cut  chases  in  the 
brick  party  walls  for  the  accommodation  of  the  conductors 
serving  the  bracket  outlets.  The  chases  were  made  either  i  in. 
or  2  in.  wide  depending  on  whether  one  or  two  armored  cables 
were  to  be  installed  in  them.  In  all  other  cases  the  armored 
cables  were  run  within  the  lath  and  plaster  partitions,  between 
joists  or  in  furring  strip  spaces  and  without  visible  disfigure- 
ment to  the  building.  The  rooms  in  which  chases  were  cut  in 
the  brick  walls  were  to  be  redecorated  subsequent  to  the  in- 
stallation of  the  wiring.  In  view  of  this,  the  most  direct,  feas- 
ible routes  between  outlets  were  followed,  it  being  in  this  case 
much  cheaper  in  the  long  run  to  cut  and  patch  the  brick  walls 
than  to  run  the  circuit  in  round-about  courses.  All  damage  to 
woodwork  was  carefully  avoided. 

Service  for  the  house  was  obtained  from  a  pole  line.  Hence  the 
entrance  was  arranged,  as  shown  in  Fig.  183,  by  running  a  line 
of  conduit  on  the  outside  of  the  rear  wall  of  the  building  from  the 
second  story  to  the  cellar.  The  service  conductors  could  have 
been  run  underground  from  the  pole  to  the  house  but  this  would 
have  involved  digging  in  the  lawn  and  securing  a  permit  from  the 
municipality  to  make  an  excavation  in  the  street.  The  meter 
was  located  in  the  cellar  near  the  entrance  switch.  It  was  de- 
cided to  locate  the  panel  box  in  the  partition  in  the  first-story  hall 
as  shown  in  Fig.  182.  Furthermore,  it  was  decided  to  run  eight 
branch  circuits  from  the  panel  box  to  serve  the  outlets. 

The  first  move  was  to  prepare  the  raceway  for  and  draw  in  the 
flexible  conduit  for  the  feeder  between  the  meter  and  the  panel 
box  or  distribution  center.  To  do  this,  a  pocket  was  cut  in  the 
first-story  floor,  under  the  panel  box  location,  close  to  the  parti- 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


237 


tion  and  from  this  pocket  a  hole  was  bored  down  through  the 
ceiling  plate  of  the  basement  partition.  Then  a  mouse  was 
dropped  down  through  the  hole  and  its  location  at  the  basement 
floor  was  determined  by  sounding. 

The  conductor-way  through  the  basement  floor  was  prepared 
without  its  being  necessary  to  cut  a  pocket  therein.  Near 
the  point  within  the  partition  which  the  sound  of  the  mouse  indi- 
cated to  be  the  course  of  the  runway,  a  i/8-in.  twist-drill  hole 

was  bored  vertically  down- 
ward through  into  the  cellar. 
This  hole  was  started  very  close 
to  the  baseboard.  At  a  point 
3-in.  over  toward  the  center  of 
the  partition  from  the  location 


Brackets 
Furnished  by 
Central  Station 
Company 


Brick  Wall 


Masonry 

Foundation  ~ 


FIG.  183. — Method  of  making 
entrance. 


info  Conduit  End 

to  Prevent 
Entrance  of  Dirt 


FIG.  184. — Panel  box  located  in 
wall. 


where  the  twist  drill  emerged  into  the  cellar,  a  large  hole  was  bored 
vertically  upward  into  and  through  the  cellar  ceiling.  This  hole 
was  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  feeder  conduit  between  the 
meter  and  the  distribution  center.  The  hole  was  bored  through 
the  ceiling,  the  floor  plate  and  into  the  partition  of  the  basement. 
In  boring  such  a  hole  it  is  necessary  to  exercise  much  care  to 
keep  the  bit  within  the  partition  and  to  prevent  it  from  taking 


238  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

an  inclined  course  and  passing  out  through  the  lath  and  plaster 
into  a  room  above. 

Next  the  hole  was  cut  in  the  first-story  partition  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  panel  box.  The  hole  was  made  to  extend  the  entire 
distance  between  the  studs  as  shown  in  Fig.  184.  The  box  was 
then  set  as  shown  in  the  figure.  Then  the  spaces  between  the 
sides  and  ends  of  the  box  and  the  plaster  were  concealed  by  the 
wooden  trim  that  was  subsequently  nailed  around  the  box.  No 
armored  cat>le  was  pulled  in  until  after  the  box  was  set.  If  the 
cable  is  pulled  in  prior  to  the  setting  of  a  box  the  dangling  ends 
of  the  cable  are  likely  to  break  away  the  plaster  around  the  open- 
ing cut  for  the  box. 

Eight  branch  circuits  were  provided.  The  panel  box  used 
(Fig.  184)  is  supplied  in  sections.  Each  section  accommodates 
two  branch-blocks.  Four  branch  circuits  feed  from  each  side  of 
the  box.  One  circuit  serves  the  third  story,  two  serve  the  second 
story,  two  the  first  story,  one  the  basement  and  one  the  night 
and  hall  lamps.  There  was  one  spare  circuit. 

After  the  panel  box  had  been  placed,  the  flexible  conduit  for 
the  feeder,  from  the  meter  to  the  box,  was  drawn  into  the  race- 
way prepared  as  previously  described.  At  the  panel  box  a  piece 
of  paper  was  stuffed  temporarily  into  the  end  of  the  conduit 
as  shown  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  dirt. 

The  branch-circuit  conductors  were  then  installed.  A  pocket 
was  previously  made  in  the  floor  of  the  first-story  hall  as  herein- 
before described.  From  this  pocket  the  cables  for  the  base- 
ment lights  were  fished  to  other  pockets  and  outlets  that  were 
located  in  the  floor  and  ceiling  between  the  basement  and  the 
first  story.  The  branch  for  the  cellar  was  dropped  down  to  that 
location  within  partitions,  the  method  of  preparing  its  wireway 
being  essentially  the  same  as  that  followed  in  preparing  the 
wireway  for  the  feeder  conduit. 

The  wireways  for  the  branch  circuits  for  the  two  upper  floors 
were  made  by  cutting  a  pocket  in  the  floor  of  the  second  story 
at  a  point  directly  over  the  panel  box  location.  From  this  pocket 
the  necessary  number  of  holes  were  bored  downwardly  through 
the  ceiling  plate  into  the  partition  space.  There  was  a  bridge 
between  the  studs  just  above  the  panel  box.  Hence  it  was  neces- 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


239 


sary  to  use  a  pipe-extension  boring  tool  (Fig.  114)  to  cut  these 
holes.  The  holes  required  for  all  of  the  branch  circuits  for  the 
two  upper  floors  were  bored  while  the  man  was  working  at  this 


Lath  and  Planter        \ 
Ceiling'' 


^ Steel  Outlet  Box 


2"x4"5tud 


Plaster 


FIG.  185.  —  Method  of  installing  ceiling  outlet  box. 

location,  this  procedure  being  better  than  to  do  the  boring  at  a 
given  point  for  only  one  circuit  at  a  setting. 

At  all  ceiling  outlet  locations  a  hole,  the  exact  diameter  of  the 
outlet  box  for  that  location,  was  cut  through  the  lath  and  plaster. 
The  armored  cable  was  fished  from  the 
pockets  to  these  outlet  boxes.  The  build- 
ing had  been  piped  for  gas  and  the  elec- 
trolier locations  were  usually  at  the  same 
points  as  the  chandelier  locations.  Hence 
the  ceiling  outlet  boxes  were  installed  as 
shown  in  Fig.  185.  After  each  outlet 
box  had  been  placed  up  over  the  end  of 
the  gas  pipe,  a  collar  was  punched  on  the 
end  of  the  pipe  and  fastened  with  a  set 
screw  as  indicated.  This  collar  supported 
the  box. 

All  wall  switches  were  installed  as  shown 
in  Fig.  162.  In  boring  from  pockets  up 
through  floor  plates  to  provide  raceways 
for  conductors  to  switch  outlets  the  door- 

knob boring  tool  of  Fig.  113  was  utilized.  For  vertical  fishing 
the  rattan  snake  of  Fig.  138  was  found  particularly  useful. 
For  electric  bracket  outlets  at  existing  gas  outlets  an  extra  deep 
outlet  box  was  used  as  shown  in  Fig.  186.  Each  box  was 


FIG.      186.-—  Bracket 
a 


240 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


secured  on  the  gas-pipe  stem  with  two  set-screwed  collars,  one 
in  front  of  and  the  other  behind  the  box. 

In  the  rooms  where  bracket  outlets  were  installed  on  the 
brick  side  walls  it  was  necessary  to  channel  the  wall  surface  as 


Outlet  Box, 


Brick 
Party 
Wall 


furred 


^Flexible  Steel -Armored  Cable 


FIG.  187. — Conductors   and    bracket    outlet   in  brick,  party  wall  in  front 

parlor. 

shown  in  Figs.  187  and  188.  The  chases  were  cut  with  a  cold 
chisel  and  hammer.  Both  of  the  views  show  the  parlor  on  the 
first  story.  In  this  room  there  is  a  high  baseboard  at  the  floor 

and  a  plaster  cornice  at  the  ceil- 
ing. It  was  considered  desirable 
not  to  cut  these.  The  runs  were 
installed  as  indicated  in  Figs. 
187  and  1 88  both  of  which 
show  different  outlets  in  the  same 
party  wall.  The  flush  wall  switch 
controlling  the  parlor  bracket-lamp 
circuit  was  located  on  the  hall 
partition  wall  just  to  the  left  of 
the  door.  The  circuit  to  feed  the 
bracket  lamps  was  carried  from 
this  switch  outlet  over  to  the 
bracket  outlet  located  a  couple  of 
feet  from  it.  The  circuit  was 
then  carried  down  to  the  floor 
within  the  partition  and  passed  in 
the  furring  strip  space  over  to  a  pocket  just  under  the  bracket 
to  the  right  of  the  parlor  door.  From  this  point  the  cable  was 
looped  to  the  bracket  outlet  and  then  carried  across  the  parlor, 


FIG.    1 88.— Electrolier   and    wall 
bracket  outlets  in  front  parlor. 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS  241 

in  the  space  between  the  joists,  to  a  pocket  in  the  upper  right- 
hand  corner  of  the  room.  From  this  pocket  the  cable  was  looped 
up  in  the  front  wall,  in  the  furring  strip  space,  to  a  point  on  a 
level  with  the  bracket  outlets  and  brought  out  from  the  wall 
and  over  to  the  adjacent  outlet  as  shown  in  Fig.  187.  A  2-in. 
chase  was  cut  in  the  plaster  and  brick  for  the  accommodation  of 
the  conductors  as  shown. 

From  this  outlet  a  leg  of  the  circuit  was  returned  to  the  front 
wall  (Fig.  187)  and  down  to  the  pocket  in  the  corner.  Then  it 
was  carried  the  length  of  the  room,  in  the  furring  strip  space,  to 
the  partition  between  the  parlors.  It  was  fished  up  within  this 
partition  and  over  to  the  bracket  outlet  in  the  upper  left-hand 
corner  of  the  room  as  shown  in  Fig.  188.  It  was  necessary  to 


.--—  Bracher  Outlets-- 


FIG.  189. — Wiring  for  two  bracket  outlets  in  back  parlor. 

cut  another  2-in.  chase  in  the  brick  party  wall  for  this  outlet. 
The  bracket-light  circuit  was  terminated  at  this  point.  It  is 
always  well  under  conditions  such  as  those  just  decribed  to  lay 
out  the  circuits  so  that  they  will,  where  possible,  terminate  on  the 
brick  walls.  Less  cutting  of  the  brick  is  then  necessary  than  where 
they  are  looped  on  the  brick  walls. 

As  shown  in  Fig.  188  no  visible  cutting  was  necessary  to 
get  the  armored  cable  to  the  front  parlor  electrolier.  The  cable 
was  laid  between  the  joists  and  in  the  furring  strip  space  in  the 

16 


242 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


Plastered 
Wall 


ceiling.     The  outlet  box  for  the  electrolier  at  this  point  was 

arranged  as  shown  in  Fig.  185. 

Fig.  189  shows  how  two  outlets  in  the  back  parlor  or  library 

were  wired.  The  positions  of 
both  of  these  outlets  were  fixed 
by  gas  outlets  already  in  use. 
A  vertical  chase  was  cut  in  the 
party  wall  to  the  first  gas  outlet 
and  then  a  horizontal  one  was 
channeled  to  the  second  outlet. 
The  illustration  shows  an  ex- 
cessive amount  of  plastering  re- 
moved. This  was  cut  away  by 
the  plasterer,  who  was  to  do  the 
replastering,  in  order  to  facili- 
tate his  work. 

In  Fig.  190  is  shown  the 
outlet  for  one  of  the  night  or 
hall  lamps  and  switch.  A  hall 
lamp  was  located  in  the  hall  of 

each  of  three  stories  of  the  building  and  one  was  installed  in  the 

vestibule.     The  lamps  on  this  circuit  may  be  controlled  from  any 


Switch 
Outlet 


FIG.    190. — Switch    and    bracket 
outlet  on  hall  lamp  circuit. 


FIG.  191. — Wireman  running  flexi- 
ble armored  cable  in  a  floor  space. 


FIG.  192. — Floor  boards  re- 
moved and  armored  cable  in  posi- 
tion in  one  of  the  bedrooms. 


story.  One  wire  of  the  circuit  was  run  from  the  switch  to  the 
hall  lamp  outlet  on  the  third  story,  to  the  outlet  on  the  second 
story,  and  thence  to  the  outlet  on  the  first  story.  The  other  wire 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS  243 

connected  each  outlet  with  one  side  of  the  branch  circuit  serving 
these  hall  lights.  A  three-way  switch  was  located  on  the  first 
and  third  stories  and  a  four-way  switch  on  the  second  story. 
(See  Fig.  90  for  diagram  showing  wiring  of  a  hall-light  system.) 
The  opposite  side  of  the  branch  circuit  connected  to  the  switch 
on  the  first  story.  Two  wires  were  run  from  the  first  switch  to 
the  four-way  switch  on  the  second  story.  From  this  two  wires 
were  carried  to  the  three-way  switch  on  the  third  story. 

Fig.  191  shows  a  wireman  installing  flexible  armored  cable 
in  a  floor  space  in  the  building.  The  ceiling  below  the  floor 
shown  was  furred.  The  cable  was,  when  its  course  lay  at  a  right 
angle  to  the  joists,  pulled  through  the  space,  occasioned  by  the 
placing  of  the  furring  strips,  between  the  lower  edges  of  the  joists 
and  the  lath.  A  pulling-in  line  was  threaded  through  the  space 
and  the  cable  was  attached  to  one  of  its  ends.  Then  the  helper 
pulled  on  the  line,  drawing  in  the  cable,  while  the  wireman  guided 
the  end  of  the  cable  through  the  raceway  as  indicated  in  the 
picture.  Where  the  course  of  the  cable  was  parallel  to  the 
joists  it  was  drawn  into  the  space  between  two  of  them  and  al- 
lowed to  rest  on  the  upper  side  of  the  lath  and  plaster  ceiling. 
Fig.  192  shows  how  the  armored  cable  was  installed  within  the 
floor  of  one  of  the  bedrooms. 

298b.  Wiring  of  a  Five-story-and-basement  Residence  with 
Flexible  Steel  Armored  Cable.  Figs.  193  and  194  show  the 
floor  plans  of  a  New  York  city  residence  that  is  fairly  typical  of 
a  large  number  of  high-class  houses  that  will  be  found  in  the  closely 
built  sections  in  the  larger  cities.  In  these  sections  the  build- 
ings are  erected  without  any  frontage  space  between  them.  The 
exterior  walls  are  of  masonry,  usually  brick,  which  renders  them 
difficult  propositions  for  the  finished-building  wireman.  Fre- 
quently the  walls  between  adjoining  buildings  are  party  walls, 
that  is,  the  wall  is  owned  jointly  by  both  of  the  parties  whose 
properties  abut.  The  wall  indicated  in  the  illustration  by  a 
dashed-double-dotted  line  is  a  party  wall. 

The  building  shown  was  wired  from  top  to  bottom  without 
visible  damage  to  walls,  decorations  or  trim.  There  is  a  total 
of  almost  150  outlets  in  this  residence. 

Electricity  service  is  obtained  from  the  underground  mains  of 


244 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


the  local  central-station  company.  Two  distribution  centers  or 
panel  boxes  were  installed.  One,  located  on  the  second  story, 
serves  the  branch  circuits  for  the  cellar,  the  first  story  and  the 
second  story.  The  other,  located  on  the  fourth  story,  serves  the 
branch  circuits  on  that  story  and  those  for  the  third  and  fifth 


5th  Story  Plan  4-th  Story  Plan.  3rd  Story  Plan. 

FIG.  193. — Plans  of  third,  fourth  and  fifth  stories. 

stories.     The  panel  boxes  were  located  in  closets  at  the  heads  of 
the  stairways. 

Furring  strips  were  used  in  the  construction  of  the  building 
between  the  lath  and  the  joists  and  between  the  lath  and  the 
masonry  walls.  This  feature  rendered  fishing  much  easier  than 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


245 


in  a  building  constructed  without  furring  strips.  The  diagrams, 
Figs.  193  and  194,  show  the  numbers  assigned,  arbitrarily, 
to  the  branch  circuits.  With  few  exceptions  the  branch  circuits 
were  so  laid  out  that  each  serves  twelve  sockets.  The  standard 


2nd  Story  Plan.  1st  Story  Plan.  Cellar  Plan. 

FIG.  194. — Plans  of  cellar  and  of  first  and  second  stories. 

symbols  of  the  National  Electric  Contractors'  Association  are 
used  in  the  diagrams. 
In  installing  the  base  receptacles  and  switch  boxes,  holes  were 


246 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


cut  just  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  boxes.  The  steel 
armored  conductors  were  fished  from  outlet  to  outlet,  from  out- 
lets to  pockets  and  from  outlets  or  pockets  to  switch  boxes. 

The  drawing-room,  in  which  four  three-lamp  brackets  and  five 
two-lamp  baseboard  receptacles  were  installed,  is  shown  in  Fig. 
195.  Circuits  Nos.  8  and  4  respectively  feed  these.  The 
bracket  lamps  are  controlled  from  switches  on  the  jamb  of 
the  sliding  doors  that  provide  entrance  to  the  room.  The  base- 
board receptacle  wiring  was  carried  under  the  floor.  A  floor 


FIG.  195. — Drawing  room  showing 
bracket  and  baseboard  outlets. 


FIG.    196. — Switches   mounted 
in  dining  room  wainscot. 


pocket  was  made  under  each  receptacle  and  in  addition  a  number 
of  other  pockets  were  cut  to  facilitate  the  installation  of  the 
armored  cable.  The  illustration  shows  a  snake  and  a  length  of 
armored  cable  that  were  pulled  from  a  pocket  which  was  cut 
to  wire  the  ceiling  outlet  in  the  entrance  hall  of  the  story  below. 
The  bracket  outlets  in  the  drawing-room  were  also  wired  from  the 
floor  below.  The  outlet  holes  were  cut  first,  then  the  conductors 
to  them  were  fished. 

The  branch-circuit  runs  from  the  panel  box  to  the  switches  on 
the  second  story  were  drawn  under  the  floor  and  carried  up  within 
the  sliding  door  partition  to  the  switch  outlets.  From  this  point 
the  circuits  were  carried  down  to  the  space  under  the  floor,  then 
between  the  lath  and  joists,  in  the  space  provided  by  the  furring 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS  247 

strips,  over  to  a  fishing  pocket.  From  the  fishing  pocket  they 
were  fished  to  other  pockets,  one  of  which  was  made  directly 
under  each  bracket  outlet.  Between  each  bracket  outlet  and 
the  pocket  located  directly  under  it  the  conductors  were  fished 
up  within  the  partition. 

This  drawing-room  was  elaborately  decorated  but  the  only 
defacements  necessary  were  those  made  by  the  floor  pockets. 
These  were  practically  invisible  after  the  job  had  been  com- 
pleted. All  of  the  floor  pockets  were  made  as  small  as  possible. 
Trie  floors  were  cut  and  the  pieces  were  removed  and  re- 
placed by  a  skillful  carpenter.  The  fixture  canopies  covered  the 
edges  of  the  holes  that  were  cut  for  the  outlet  boxes  and  the 
outlet  boxes  themselves.  The  plates  of  the  baseboard  recep- 
tacles covered  the  edges  of  the  holes  made  for  these. 

In  the  dining-room  the  switches  were  mounted  in  the  hard- 
wood wainscot  as  shown  in  Fig.  196.  The  bracket  outlets  for 
this  room  are  served  by  circuit  No.  7.  The  ceiling  outlets  are 
fed  by  circuit  No.  i,  which  also  supplies  energy  to  outlets  in  the 
kitchen  on  the  story  below. 

A  special  circuit,  No.  n,  was  run  from  the  panel  box  to  an 
outlet  in  the  pantry  for  serving  heating  apparatus.  The  base- 
board receptacles  in  the  foyer  hall  were  connected  to  circuit 
No.  2.  Brackets,  baseboard  receptacles  and  floor  receptacles 
in  the  library  were  also  connected  to  branch  circuit  No.  2.  Circuit 
No.  6  feeds  the  baseboard  and  floor  receptacles  in  the  library. 
Circuit  No.  9  runs  to  the  pantry  back  of  the  dining-room  and 
thence  down  to  the  bracket  in  the  kitchen  on  the  story  below  and 
to  a  ceiling  outlet  in  the  passage  in  the  rear  of  the  kitchen;  a  base 
receptacle  in  the  dining-room  and  another  in  the  kitchen  are  also 
connected  to  this  circuit.  In  the  entrance  hall,  the  brackets  are 
connected  to  circuit  No.  5  and  the  brackets  in  the  foyer  hall  are 
fed  from  No.  10.  A  total  of  twelve  circuits  feeds  from  the  dis- 
tribution center  or  panel  box  on  the  second  story. 

Fourteen  branch  circuits  feed  from  the  panel  box  on  the 
fourth  story.  One  circuit  is  a  spare.  There  was  nothing  in 
connection  with  the  wiring  of  the  three  upper  stories  that  differed 
radically  from  the  procedure  followed  for  the  others.  The 
bath  room  in  the  rear  of  the  owner's  room  has  a  tile  wainscot  and 


248 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


a  tile  floor.  The  roof  (there  is  no  attic)  is  directly  over  this  room, 
hence  it  was  necessary  to  fish  up  from  the  switch  outlet  A ,  Fig. 
193,  over  the  bath  room  ceiling  and  down  to  the  two-lamp  bracket 


Tile  Wainscoting 


FIG.  197. — Switch  mounting  in 
bath  room. 


FIG.  198. — Bracket   outlet    box  in 
position  in  owner's  bedroom. 


outlet  located  on  the  opposite  wall.  The  circuits  in  the  bedroom 
and  the  bath  room  at  the  extreme  rear  of  the  third  story  were 
fished  similarly.  There  was  no  hanging  ceiling  and,  obviously, 

the  roof  could  not  be  cut.    Switch 
A  was  actually  located  to  the  right 
of  the  bath  room  door  instead  of 
at  its  left  as  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tion.      Therefore    the   fish- wire 
course  was  at  a  right  angle  to  the 
joists    from    the    switch   to    the 
bracket    outlet.      The    setting — 
the    plate     being    removed — of 
switch  A  is  shown  in  Fig.  197. 
Fig.  198  shows  how  the  wall  in 
the  owner's  room  was  cut  and  a 
bracket  outlet  box  installed.    The 
outlet  hole  was  made  very  care- 
fully, exactly  the  diameter  of  the  box,  and  the  result  was  that  it 
fitted   snugly.     In   Fig.    199  is  shown  a  view  of  the  front  bed- 
room on  the  fifth  story.    There  is  an  outlet  at  the  chandelier  and 


FIG.  199.— Ceiling    outlets  in  bed- 
room. 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS 


249 


a  two-lamp  outlet  directly  over  where  a  dressing  table  is  normally 
located.  Neither  ceiling  nor  side  walls  were  damaged  in  running 
the  conductors  to  these  outlets. 

MISCELLANEOUS  INSTALLATIONS 

299.  An  installation  where  rigid  conduit  was  installed  on  a 
residence  exterior  (see  Fig.  200  and  Par.  130)  was  described  by 
V.  Spath  in  Electrical  Review  and  Western  Electrician  of  Feb.  15, 
1913.  Metallic  conduit  wiring  was  compulsory  but  neither 


Conduit  Riser  to  Space  bet 
'  >ilinq 


First  Story  Ceiling  and  Second  Story  Floor 


FIG.  200. — Conduit  runs  supported  on  the  outside  of  a  building. 

flexible  steel  armored  cable  or  flexible  metallic  conductor  was 
available,  hence  rigid  conduit  was  used  for  the  entire  job.  The 
building  had  two  stories  and  an  attic  and  had,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  attic,  double  floors  throughout.  It  was  not  con- 
sidered advisable  to  disturb  any  of  these  floors. 

A  i/2-in.  galvanized  conduit  was  installed  along  the  side  of  the 
house  in  line  with  the  second-floor  joists.  For  lateral  con- 
nections i/2-in.  right  or  left,  tee  and  ell,  condulets  were  utilized 
and  from  these  fittings  conduit  lines  were  run  to  the  ceiling  out- 
lets in  the  spaces  between  the  joists.  At  the  ceiling  outlets,  most 
of  which  were  combination  gas  and  electric,  galvanized  street  ells 


250 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


and  i/2-in.  outlet  plates  which  were  fastened  to  the  joists  were 
used.  The  center  outlet  of  each  plate  was  used  for  the  gas  pipe. 
The  galvanized  ell  was  fastened  in  one  of  the  other  outlets  with 
a  lock-nut  and  a  bushing. 

Conduit  risers  were  then  run  from  the  basement  up  the  side  of 
the  building  along  vertical  gutter  spouts  or  in  angles  in  the  wall 
and  were  connected  to  the  horizontal  runs  described  above.  The 
risers  were  not  conspicuous  due  to  the  locations  selected  for  their 
installation.  The  risers  to  the  switches  in  the  first-story  rooms 
were  concealed  in  partitions  and  terminated  in  standard  switch 


FIG.  201. — Building  wired  for  double-pole  switches. 

boxes  and  fittings.  The  switch-boxes  were  all  installed  on  wains- 
coting or  on  suitable  blocks  (see  Fig.  65)  so  that  a  neat  installa- 
tion of  the  flush  switches  resulted.  The  service  conductors  were 
carried  in  conduit  to  the  old  service  cabinet,  which  was  located 
in  the  basement  and  was  in  good  condition. 

In  wiring  to  the  ceiling  and  wall  outlets  on  the  second  floor, 
boards  were  removed  from  the  attic  floor  and  the  circuits  were 
fished  to  the  outlets.  Then  a  conduit  riser  to  serve  the  second  floor 
was  installed  in  a  space  by  the  chimney  where  it  was  concealed  by 
partitions.  An  improved  terminal  fitting  was  used  on  the  end 
of  the  conduit. 

There  were  two  sets  of  three-way  switches  and  each  set  had  a 
four- way  intermediate  switch  providing  three-location  control  for 
the  lamps  on  these  circuits.  There  were  also  an  electrolier  switch 


EXAMPLES  OF  INSTALLATIONS  251 

for  the  dining-room  lamps  and  several  single-pole  switches  at 
different  locations  in  the  house.  A  special  circuit  was  provided 
in  the  kitchen  for  an  electric  iron.  This  was  fed  through  a 
double-pole  flush  switch,  pilot  light  and  a  flush  receptacle. 

A  careful  painting  of  the  conduit  on  the  outside  of  the  house 
rendered  it  altogether  inconspicuous.  It  would  not  be  dis- 
cerned by  the  ordinary  passer-by.  All  holes  in  the  wall,  where  the 
conduit  entered  the  house,  were  packed  with  white  lead  and  the 
screwed  joints  in  the  exposed  conduit  were  carefully  leaded. 

300.  The  method  of  wiring  a  building  with  double-pole  switches 
is  shown  in  Fig.  201.  Double-pole  switches  are  required  for  all 
lamp  outlets  in  certain  communities.  In  Pittsburgh  the  municipal 
rules  require  that  each  room  must  have  an  independent  switch 
located  at  the  most  used  entrance  to  the  room  and  that  where 
there  is  a  gas  outlet  at  the  point  where  the  electrolier  is  to  be 
located,  the  switch  must  be  double  pole. 


CHAPTER  XI 

FIXTURES 
FIXTURES  FOR  FINISHED-BUILDING  INSTALLATIONS 

301.  Fixtures  for  Finished-building  Wiring  Installations.    It 

has  been  the  experience  of  most  central  stations  that  some  pro- 
vision must  be  made  whereby  sightly  electric,  and  combination 
gas  and  electric,  lighting  fixtures  can  be  furnished  to  consumers 
at  low  cost.  Either  the  central  station  may  sell  the  fixtures 
direct  to  the  consumers  or  arrangements  may  be  made  with 
contractors  and  dealers  to  retail  fixtures  of  certain  styles — 
leaders — to  the  consumers  at  attractive  prices.  The  general 
opinion  seems  to  be  that,  in  this  matter  as  in  the  other  matters 
of  policy  in  finished-building  wiring  campaigns,  it  is  best,  where 
possible,  for  the  central  station,  the  contractors  and  dealers  to  all 
work  together. 

It  is  an  undisputed  fact  that  many  people  will  decline  to  have 
their  houses  wired  unless  they  can  obtain  good-looking  fixtures 
at  reasonable  prices.  The  central  station  must  make  it  its 
business  to  see  that  they  can. 

In  practically  every  case,  the  fixtures  are  ordered  at  the  same 
time  as  is  the  wiring  and  the  price  of  the  fixtures  is  added  to  the 
wiring  price,  giving  the  price  of  the  job — the  figure  in  which  the 
consumer  is  interested.  Usually  the  central  station  carries  the 
fixture  account  and  the  consumer  pays  the  central  station  for 
both  fixtures  and  wiring,  either  on  a  cash  or  an  installment 
basis,  even  though  the  fixtures  are  purchased  through  a  contractor 
or  dealer. 

Sometimes  central  stations  purchase  a  considerable  quantity 
of  fixtures  of  a  certain  style  and  retail  them  direct  to  the  consumer, 
provided  they  are  to  be  used  for  finished-building  installations. 
In  such  cases  it  is  possible  to  make  very  low  prices.  (See  Fig. 
202,  illustrating  and  pricing — the  price  to  the  consumer — fixtures 

252 


FIXTURES 


253 


A. 

Hall. 
($2.°-°) 


c. 

Kitchen 
and  Pantry.  )'      \' \  F. 

Dining  Room. 
E.  ($5-°-) 

Bath  Room  and  all 
Brockets  ($l?-5) 

FIG.  202. — Fixtures  used  in  Boston  house  wiring  campaign.      (Prices  are 
those  to  the  consumer.) 


$I.1S 

(Equipped  with 
Chain -Pull  Sockets) 


(Combination 
Gas  and  Electric) 

Note  ••  All  Fixtures  except  that  with 
the  Chain-Pull  Socket  are 
Equipped  with  Key  Sockets 


No.27-Ui02 


No.  16 
U200. 
No.22-U20Z. 

FIG.  203. — Fixtures  sold  in  finished-building  wiring  campaign  by  the 
Union  Electric  Light  &  Power  Company,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  (Prices  are  those 
to  the  consumer.) 


254 


WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 


65  i 


85  *, 


VP52    Bath  1052.  Bed  Room. 

RESIDENCE  flXTURE  SET  A- 


Note     Prices  Shown  are  Approximate  for  Fixtures  when  Purchased  in  Lots  of  10  or 

more  and  are  for  Fixtures  Wired  Complete  with  Keyless  Sockers^Shade-Holders 
and  Glassware    For  Key-  Sockets  add  £  fi  per  Socket 

FIG.  204. — Sets  of  low-priced  residence  fixtures  manufactured  by  the  Federal 

Sign  System, 


FIXTURES 


255 


603.  Kitchen  Bed  Rooms. 

RESIDENCE  FIXTURE  SET  F 

Note    Prices  Shown  are  Approximate  for  Fixtures  when  Purchased  in  Lots  of  70  or 

more  and  are  for  Fixtures  Wired  Complete  with  Keyless  5ocket3,5hade-t1olcters 
and  Glassware.  For  Key-Sockets  add  5  #  per  Socket. 

FIG.  205. — Sets  of  low-priced  residence  fixtures  manufactured  by  the  Federal 

Sign  System. 


256  WIRING  OF  FINISHED  BUILDINGS 

used  in  the  Boston,  Mass.,  campaign.)  It  is  not  usually  feasible 
for  the  smaller  central  stations  to  do  this.  With  them  the  prac- 
tice is  to  arrange  with  some  fixture  manufacturer  to  furnish  the 
fixtures  as  required  at  the  lowest  possible  prices.  Then  samples 
of  the  different  fixtures  to  be  exploited  are  exhibited  and  orders 
are  taken  from  these  samples.  Under  this  arrangement  it  is  not 
necessary  for  the  central  station  to  carry  an  extensive  stock. 

Fixtures  can  be,  and  are,  sold  from  illustrations  and  catalogues. 
However,  the  most  effective  method  is  to  exhibit  sample  fixtures 
either  in  a  neat  window  display  or  show  room  or,  preferably,  in 
rooms  fitted  and  furnished  like  the  rooms  in  a  house.  Fig.  203 
shows  the  fixtures  sold  in  connection  with  a  successful  finished- 
building  wiring  campaign  in  St.  Louis.  The  prices  given  are 
those  to  the  consumer.  Illustrated  in  Figs.  204  and  205  are 
fixtures  typical  of  the  line  manufactured  by  the  Federal  Sign 
System,  particularly  for  use  in  connection  with  finished-building 
wiring  campaigns.  The  prices  shown  are  those  allowed  to  central 
stations  and  dealers. 

302.  Styles  of  Fixtures  to  Feature.  It  does  not  pay  to  feature 
too  many  styles  of  fixtures  in  finished-building  wiring  campaigns. 
Probably  it  is  the  best  plan  to  feature  only  one  or  at  the  most 
two.  In  addition,  where  gas  is  used  extensively,  a  line  of  combi- 
nation fixtures  should  be  available  because  there  is  a  certain  class 
of  consumers  that  still  believe  that  gas  should  be  at  hand  for 
emergencies.  In  the  Boston  campaign,  only  one  style  of  fixtures 
(Fig.  202)  was  exploited  and  with  splendid  results.  In  the  St. 
Louis  campaign,  a  couple  of  styles  (see  Fig.  203)  were  sold  at  low 
prices.  If  more  than  a  couple  of  styles  are  shown  the  consumer 
may  become  confused  and  hesitate  to  ask  some  one's  opinion. 
This  causes  delay  and  costs  money.  It  really  makes  little  differ- 
ence in  the  average  finished  building  what  style  of  fixture  is 
used  provided  it  is  neat  and  substantial.  The  most  important 
advantage  of  using  only  a  style  or  two  is  that  the  central  station 
or  dealer  can  get  very  low  quantity  prices  on  a  considerable 
number  of  fixtures  all  of  the  same  style.  Where  a  prospective 
customer  is  encountered  who  desires  fixtures  of  some  particular 
style  or  design  and  is  willing  to  pay  for  them,  he  can  be  referred 
to  a  fixture  house  that  will  furnish  anything  that  is  required. 


INDEX 


Advertising  a  premium  cam- 
paign    40 

blind 21 

campaign,   example  of  a 

successful 22 

circulars  and  folders 15 

circular  letter 1 1 

by    contractors'    associa- 
tions   20 

cost  of  a  wiring  campaign.  7 

different  methods  of 7 

Duquesne  Electric  Light 

Co.,  Pittsburgh,  Pa.  21 

electrical  page 19 

electric  sign 19 

enclosures  with  letters ...  98 

handbills 18 

in  classified  columns 21 

in  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  il- 
luminated sign 13 

moving  pictures 99 

newspaper 9,  99 

of  the  Byllesby  Co 21 

posters  and  billboards ...  13 

reading  notice 24 

relative  values  of  various 

methods 8 

street  car  card 12 

street  car 99 

to  selling,  relation  of 92 

window  display 15,  99 

in  wiring  campaigns 6 

Agreement,  typical  wiring  ...  89 
Angling  rod  for  wire  fishing.  .  193 
Animals  as  assistants  in  fish- 
ing   183 

Apartment  wiring 133 

17  257 


Application  form  for  electric 

wiring 43 

of  exploring  lamp  in  fish- 
ing   179 

of  metallic  conduit  and 
flexible  steel  armored 
conductor 114 

Applications  of  Kuhlo  wire. .  .    142 

Appendix  to  commercial  sec- 
tion   85 

Armored  cable  in  brick  wall .  .   240 
conductor,  flexible  steel. .    113 

Atlantic  Coast,  percentage  of 

houses  wired i 

Austria,    the    "plaster   hose" 

system  in 137 

Average  prices  for  wiring 
finished  frame  build- 
ings   63 


Baltimore,  Consolidated  Gas, 
Electric  Light  and 
Power  Co.  lamp-out- 
let,  unit  price  sched- 
ule   69 

Bare  concentric  wire  (Kuhlo 

wire) 137 

Bargain  feature  in  wiring 

campaigns 7 

Base  blocks  for  fixtures  and 

switches 128 

Baseboard,  method  of  run- 
ning  conductors  from 
floor  pocket  to  par- 
tition  above  without 
disturbing 212 


258 


INDEX 


Baseboard  outlets,  wiring  to..  246 

tools  for  removing 169 

Basis    of    estimating    house- 
wiring 87 

Bath  room  switch  mounting 

in 248 

Bergmann  Tube  system 136 

Billboard    and   poster    adver- 
tising       13 

Bit,  exploring 182 

holder  extension 177 

steel  fish 178 

Blind  advertising 21 

Board,  how  to  avoid  the  split- 
ting of  when  driving 

a  nail  in 168 

Boards,  removal  of  floor 159 

Booklet   "Electric  Service  in 

The  Home" 16 

Boring    a    ceiling,    device    to 

catch  chips  when 158 

and  boring  tools 170 

floor    and    ceiling    plates 

with  ratchet  drill 172 

holes  in  joists 171 

from  outlets  and  pock- 
ets, tool  for 171 

plaster-of-Paris    canopies 

and  molding 1 70 

through   joists,    pipe   ex- 
tension   boring    tool 

for 174 

tool,  manipulation  of  the 

pipe-extension 175 

pipe-extension 1 73 

size  of  holes  to  be  bored 

with 176 

turning    with    a    pipe 

wrench 1 76 

Boston,  Mass,  campaign 45 

circular  letters  in 12 

fixtures  used  in 256 

schedule     of     prices     for 

wiring 79 

Box,  bracket  outlet,  in  par- 
tition.. .   116 


Box  switch,  installation   of 

rigid  conduit 106 

Boxes,    switch,    cutting   holes 

for 169 

Bracket  box  for  steel  armored 
cable  or  flexible  con- 
duit   114 

knob  and  tube  method  of 

wiring 127 

outlet  box  in  partition. . .    116 

installation  of 107 

wiring,  knob  and  tube. . .    124 

Branch  block  installation 221 

circuits 146 

determination  of  num- 
ber of 146 

distribution  centers  and 

panel  boxes 146 

Brick,  drills  for  piercing 213 

or  masonry   walls,     con- 
ductors in 122 

wall,  running  conductors 

to  an  outlet  in 208 

wiring  to  outlets  in 241 

Bridge  in  wall,  to  carry  con- 
ductors past  a 203 

Bridging,  running  wires  past 

between  joists 125 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  campaign  of 
Edison  Electric  Il- 
luminating Co 46 

prices  of  Edison  Electric 
Illuminating  Co.  for 

wiring 76 

Building  construction 150 

wired      for      double-pole 

switches 250 

Buildings,  card  record  of  un- 

wired 26 

finished  business  yet  to  be 

obtained  in 2 

new,  per  thousand  popu- 
lation         5 

small,  average  income  from     3 
Burglar  circuit  wiring  in  fin- 
ished buildings 154 


INDEX 


259 


Burglar      emergency     switch.    153 
Business  already  obtained. ...        I 
yet  to  be  obtained  in  fin- 
ished buildings 2 

Butler,  Pa.,  West  Penn  Trac- 
tion Co.  campaign. .  .      52 
Byllesby  campaign  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky 42 

Co.,  advertising  methods 

of 21 

Company  Campaigns. ...     39 


Cable,  wiring  of  a  five-story- 
and-basement  resi- 
dence with  flexible 

steel  armored 243 

Calculation  of  wire  sizes 146 

Campaign,  advertising  cost  of 

a  wiring 7 

example  of  a  successful.  22 

Boston,  Mass 45 

Butler,  Pa 52 

direct  by  mail 96 

-  Edison  Electric  Illuminat- 
ing      Company      of 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y 46 

free  fixtures  as  a  feature 

of 36 

Harrisburg,  Pa 50 

house- wiring  for  Dawson, 

Ohio ' 86 

Kansas  City,  Mo 49 

Louisville,  Ky 50 

H.  M.  Byllesby  Co. . .  42 

Marshalltown,  Iowa 52 

Minneapolis,  H.  M.  Byl- 
lesby Co 40 

Muncie,  Ind 51 

Mt.  Vernon,  111 53 

Pittsburgh,  Pa 47 

South  Bend,  Ind 50 

Toledo,  Ohio 50 

typical  form  of 93 

Union  Electric  Light  and 

Power  Co.,  St.  Louis.  44 


Campaigns,    advertising    fin- 
ished-building wiring.       6 
examples      of      finished- 
building  wiring 39 

future 93 

the  bargain  feature  in.  . .       7 
Canopies,    boring    plaster    of 

Paris 170 

Canvass,  personal 19 

Car,  cards 12 

Card,  example  of  a  soliciting.     27 
record  of  unwired  build- 
ings       26 

Carrying   conductors,   around 

or  through  a  sill 205 

Cash  premiums  as  a  stimulant 

to  solicitors 31 

Ceiling,     fishing     conductors 

from 194 

forcing  conductors  around 

coved  portions  of. ...  198 
installing  outlet  box  for 
flexible  metallic  con- 
duit in  furred 117 

method  of  locating  center 

of 214 

or  center  outlets,  fishing 

to 209 

outlet  box,  method  of  in- 
stalling    239 

method  of  connecting.  233 
under  parquetry  border.  210 
wiring  from,  to  a  parti- 
tion outlet 212 

outlets,  cost  of  standard .     67 
knob  and  tube  method.  126 
to  side-wall  outlet,   fish- 
ing from 196 

Center  of  ceiling,  method  of 

locating 214 

outlets,  wiring  conductors 

to 209 

Centers  of  distribution,  costs 
and  list  prices  of  ser- 
vices, entrances  and 
runs  to. .  66 


260 


INDEX 


Chain  for  fishing 185 

Charges  on  interior  wiring, 
overhead  and  general 

expense 61 

Charging  flat-rate  method  of.     37 
small  consumer,  flat-rate 

basis 4 

Chicago  wiring  rules 61 

Chisels    for    removing     floor 

boards 159 

Cinder-filled      floors,      wiring 

buildings  with 215 

Circuit,  master  switch 153 

Circuits,  emergency  or  burg- 
lar   154 

three-way  and  emergency.  1 53 
Circular     includes     contract, 
Union  Electric  Com- 
pany's       16 

letter,  sample 96 

letters 1 1 

in  Boston,  Mass,  cam- 
paign       12 

loom  in  finished  buildings, 

use  of 123 

Circulars  and  folders 15 

Cities,  development  in 5 

Citizens  Gas  &  Electric  Light 
Co.,  Mt.  Vernon,  111. 

campaign 53 

Classification  of  buildings  for 
estimating  on  Unit  or 
"Standardized" 

basis 60 

of  finished  building  wiring 

methods 101 

Cleats    to    support    replaced 

floor  boards 166 

Cloth,  drop 157 

Combination  of  rigid  and  flex- 
ible conduit 119 

wooden  molding  and  flex- 
ible tubing  wiring. .  .    133 

Compilation  of  estimates 54 

Concealed  knob  and  tube  wir- 
ing, prices  for 83 


Concentric      wiring      (Kuhlo 

wire) 137 

Conductor,    flexible   steel    ar- 
mored     113 

Conductors  around  a  sill,  car- 
rying    205 

coved  portions  of  ceil- 
ing     198 

carried  concealed  within 

molding 132 

fished  from  ceiling 194 

from  floor  pocket  to  par- 
tition above,  method 

of  running 212 

to  floor,  knob  and  tube 

method  of  carrying..    125 
in   conduit   installations.    103 
laid  on  furring  strips,  fish- 
ing     199 

past  a  bridge  in  wall 203 

routes  for 145 

to  an  outlet  in  a  brick 

wall,  running 208 

Conduit,  combination  of  rigid 

and  flexible 119 

device  for  pulling  flexible.   118 
exposed,      for      finished- 
building   wiring no 

on  building  exterior.  .  .    in 
to  moisture,   combina- 
tion of  rigid  and  flex- 
ible . . : 120 

for  feeder 104 

in  brick  or  masonry  walls.   122 
in   furred   walls,   running 

flexible 119 

installation  of  switch  box 

for  flexible 116 

of  wall  bracket  box  for 
steel  armored     cable 

or  flexible 114 

rigid-and-flexible 121 

installations 103 

installed  on  building  ex- 
terior, rigid no 

iron,  panel  boxes  for 150 


INDEX 


261 


Conduit  lines  in  elevator  shaft.  109 
metallic  flexible,  must  not 
be  subjected  to  mois- 
ture     118 

riser  in  building  of  several 

stories no 

runs  on  outside  of  build- 
ing      249 

slotting  joists  for 103 

splicing  flexible 114 

switch  box,    installation 

of 106 

use    flexible     instead     of 

bending  rigid 120 

vertical,    can    serve    two 

outlets 123 

wiring 102 

flexible  metallic 113 

rigid 102 

work,      installing      panel 

box 105 

Conduits,  joining  rigid  verti- 
cal   107 

substitution  of  one  rigid 

for  several  flexible.  .    121 
Connecting  a  ceiling  outlet. . .   233 

Connections,  soldering 213 

Connectors  for  armored  cable.  115 
Consolidated     Gas,     Electric 
Light  and  Power  Co., 
Baltimore,  Md.,  wir- 
ing prices 59 

Construction,  building 150 

frame  buildings 151 

of  a  panel-box 147 

of   flexible   metallic   con- 
duit     114 

Contract  and  specification 88 

finished-building  wiring. .      17 
Union  Electric  Company 

circular 16 

Contractors'  Associations,  ad- 
vertising by 20 

Contractors,  how  one  central 
station  co-operates 
with  the 34 


Contractors,  relations  with. .  33 
Contracts,  distribution  of. ...  91 
Controlled  flat-rate  method  of 

charging 37 

Controller,  flat-rate 37 

Co-operation  between  central 
stations  and  con- 
tractors   34 

Cottages,  charges  for  wiring 
furnishing  lamps  and 
fixtures,  Mobile,  Ala.  78 
Cost  data  in  1913  National 
Electric  Light  Asso- 
ciation report 60 

for     installing     switches, 

labor 62 

of  a  wiring  campaign,  ad- 
vertising         7 

of  cutting  hardwood  and 

Parquetry  floors.  ...     62 

hardwood  floors 62 

of  fixtures 253 

of  metal  molding  instal- 
lations     130 

of   standard   ceiling   out- 
lets      67 

of  wiring,  effect  of  Muni- 
cipal rules  on 61 

as  affected  by  National 

electrical  code  rules. .     61 

buildings  in  Europe ...      84 

Costs  and  list  prices  of  extras .     68 

of  outlets 67 

of    services,    entrances 
and   runs  to  centers 

of  distribution 66 

and    prices    of    finished- 
building  wiring 54 

N.  E.  L.  A 60 

Cottages,  price  of  flexible 
metallic  conduit  wir- 
ing  ^ 75 

Current-lighting  devices 37 

Customers  per  capita i 

per  thousand  population .       5 
Customer,small  possibilities  of.       3 


262 


INDEX 


Cutting  a  small  pocket 166 

quick  method  of 167 

holes    for    round    outlet 

boxes 170 

outlet  holes 169 

wall    paper    for    making 

fishing  hole 204 


D 


Dawson,  Ohio,  campaign  in . .     85 

"Dead"  molding 134 

Denver  wiring  rules 61 

Determination  of  number  of 

branch  circuits 146 

Development      in      different 

cities,  table  of 5 

Dimensions   of   rigid   conduit 

and  conduit  fittings.    102 

of  steel  fish  wire 186 

Direct-by-mail  campaign 96 

Dirt  catcher,  cone-shaped  re- 
flector as  a 159 

inverted  umbrella  as. . .    158 
-catching     device     when 

boring  a  ceiling 158 

Display  advertising,  window..      15 
cards  in  Manchester,  N. 

H.  campaign 14 

Districts,  solicitation,  division 

of  a  community  into.  26 
Distribution  cabinet  and  junc- 
tion boxes  in  a  com- 
bination rigid-and- 
flexible  conduit  in- 
stallation    121 

center,  panel-box 147 

selection  of  point  for ..    145 

wiring  to 234 

centers  and  panel  boxes. .    146 

of  contracts 91 

Division  of  a  community  into 

solicitation  districts.      26 

Door-knob  boring  tool 171 

Dortmund,   rental  of  fixtures 

in 37 


Double-pole   switches,    wiring 

a  building  with 251 

Dowel  joint  for  pipe-extension 

boring  tool 175 

Drills  for  boring  floor  and  ceil- 
ing plates,  ratchet.. .  172 

for  piercing  brick 213 

Drop  cloth 157 

Duquesne  Electric  Light  Co. 

advertising 21 

Light  Co.  of  Pittsburgh, 

advertising 22 

Electric  Light  Co.,  Pitts- 
burgh campaign 47 

E 

Edison  Electrical  Illuminating 
Co.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
campaign  of 46 

Educational  campaign,  house- 
wiring  campaign  pre- 
ceded by  an 6 

Electrical  page  advertising ...      19 

Electric  bell  indicator  in  wire 

fishing 198 

exploring  lamps 182 

signs 19 

Electroliers    fed    from    attic, 

supporting 107 

Electrolier    installation    with 

circular  loom  wiring.    126 

Elevator  shafts,  installing  con- 
duit lines  in 109 

Emergency  circuits  for  three- 
wire  system  installa- 
tions   156 

three-way  and 153 

or  burglar  circuit  wiring.    154 

Encasing      conductors      with 

loom 123 

England,         finished-building 

wiring  in 142 

Entrance,  meter  and  distribu- 
tion-center locations.  145 
method    of    making    into 

basement 237 


INDEX 


263 


Entrance  wires,  installation  of.  145 
Entrances  and  runs,  costs  and 

list  prices 66 

Estimate,  and  example  of  an 

itemized 64 

sheet 58 

Estimates  and  their  compila- 
tion       54 

Estimating  and  prices 35 

blank  and  its  use 28 

convenient  form  for  rough.     54 

form,  sample  of 55 

house- wiring,  basis  of 87 

method  of 92 

on  a  unit  or  "standard- 
ized" basis 60 

Estimator,    personal    require- 
ments of  the 29 

solicitors    and    salesman- 
solicitors 25 

Estimators  employed  in  solicit- 
ing business 29 

work   in    a   wiring    cam- 
paign      29 

Europe,  cost  of  wiring  build- 
ings      84 

methods  of  wiring  in 135 

rental  of  fixtures  in 36 

Examples  of  campaigns 39 

of  installations 217 

Excess-indicators 37 

Exploring  bit 182 

lamp  in  fishing 179 

lamps,  home-made 179 

electric 182 

of  partition  interiors 178 

partition  interiors 181 

wiring  spaces  with  mirror 

and  flash  light 180 

Exposed  conduit  for  finished- 
building  wiring no 

wiring  for  finished  build- 
ings     101 

Extension-bit  holder 176 

homemade 177 

boring  tool,  pipe 173 


Extension  plug  mounted  in  a 

baseboard  207 

Extensions  to  existing  instal- 
lations with  mold- 
ing   133 

Exteriors,  rigid  conduit  in- 
stalled on  building .  .  no 

Extras,  costs  and  list  prices  of .     68 


Faraday  Electrical  Association 

of  Chicago 20 

Federal  Electric  Co.  fixtures.     254 

Feeder,  conduit  for 104 

Finished-building  salesmen. . .     25 
wiring  at  Milan,  Italy.    136 
campaign     advertis- 
ing,   the  desidera- 
tum of 6 

estimators  work  in  a.     29 
campaigns,  advertis- 
ing in 6 

examples  of 39 

classification 101 

contract,  sample. ...      17 

exposed 101 

in  England 142 

in  Europe 135 

installations,  fixtures 

for 252 

jobs,  profits  and  list 

prices  for 61 

methods  of  determin- 
ing      costs       and 

prices 54 

miscellaneous    meth- 
ods    212 

neatness 157 

prices  for  knob  and 

tube 83 

soldering  connections.  213 
solicitor,       qualifica- 
tions of 25 

use  of  flexible  tubing 
or  circular  loom  in.  123 


264 


INDEX 


Finished    buildings,    business 

yet  to  be  obtained  in.       2 
rigid    conduit    installa- 
tions     102 

Fish  bit,  steel 178 

Fishing  and  fishing  devices  . .  183 
angling  rod  for  wire. ...  193 
animals  as  assistants  in. .  183 

chain  for 185 

conductors  from  ceiling. .    194 
laid  on  furring  strips.  . .   199 
electric  bell  indicator. ...    198 
from  ceiling  to  side- wall 

outlet 196 

hole,  cutting,  without  dis- 
figuring wall  paper. .   204 
illumination  and   explor- 
ing of  partition  inte- 
riors     178 

knob  on  end  of  snake  for .    187 
magnetized  steel  hook  for.   1 89 

pull  socket  chain  for 185 

to  ceiling  or  center  out- 
lets    209 

tool,  steel  hook 189 

wire,  iron  pipe  as  guide 

for 197 

or  snake 186 

weighted  end 187 

wires  through  holes  with 

extension  bit 178 

with  two  hooked  snakes.    196 

work  of  helper  in 187 

Fittings  for  Kuhlo  wire 141 

Five-story-and-basement  resi- 
dence, wiring  with 
flexible  steel  armored 

cable 243 

Fixture  served  through  mold- 
ing, installing  a 132 

wires,  pulling  past  a  right 

angle 195 

Fixtures    and    lamps,   wiring, 

policy 87 

and  switches,  base  blocks 

for..  .    128 


Fixtures,  electric 252 

for  finished-building  wir- 
ing installations 252 

free  as  a  feature  of  cam- 
paign   36 

in  Europe,  rental  of 36 

policy  in  regard  to 35 

rental  of,  in  Europe 36 

solicitors     should     carry 

pictures  and  prices  of.     36 

to  feature,  styles  of 256 

typical 253 

Flat-price  for  outlets 59 

per  installation 58 

-rate  basis     of  charging 

small  consumer 4 

controller 37 

method  of  charging.. . .     37 
Flexible  conduit  bracket  out- 
let box  in  partition. .  1 16 
combination     of     rigid 

and 119 

device  for  pulling 1 1 8 

splicing 114 

wiring  a  building  with.    119 
cord  on  glass  button  con- 
struction     135 

metallic  conduit  instead 
of  bending  rigid  con- 
duit   120 

not  to  be  subjected  to 

moisture 118 

wiring 113 

for  finished  buildings.   113 
for       medium-grade 

finished  buildings.     74 
steel  armored  cable,  wir- 
ing  of   a   five-story- 
and-basement      resi- 
dence with 243 

cable,   wiring  a  three- 
story  city  residence.   234 
conductor  or  steel  ca- 
ble     113 

tubing  and  molding  wir- 
ing, combination. ...  133 


INDEX 


265 


Flexible  tubing  at  electrolier.    126 

at  outlets 124 

or  circular  loom  in  fin- 
ished-building   w  i  r- 

ing 123 

Floor  and  ceiling  plates,  rat- 
chet drill  for  boring.   172 
boards,  cleats  for  replaced .    1 66 

removal  of 159 

removed  by  sawing  off 

tongue 164 

in  a  continuous  line     228 
removing,  with  scraper 

and  hammer 163 

saw    for    removing    floor 

boards 159 

space,  armored  cable  in . .  242 
Floors,  cost  of  cutting  hard- 
wood and  parquetry.     62 
Flooring,  length  to  be  removed  165 
saw  for  finished-building 

wiremen 160 

taking  up  finely  finished.    164 

up  soft-wood 162 

Flush  switch,  installing 208 

Folders  and  circulars 15 

Follow-up  by  salesmen,   per- 
sonal       98 

Forcing     conductors     around    ' 
coved     portions     of 

ceiling 198 

Form  for  rough  estimating ...     54 

letters 94 

of  application  for  electric 

wiring 43 

of  campaign 93 

of  circular  letters 98 

preliminary  information.     56 

Forms  of  wooden  molding 131 

Frame  building,  small,  exam- 
ple of  wiring 228 

buildings 150 

average  prices  for  wir- 
ing finished 63 

wiring  with  knob  and 
tube  method 217 


Framing  of  wooden  buildings .    1 50 
Furred  ceiling,  outlet  box  in .  .    117 
walls,  running  flexible  me- 
tallic conduit  or  ar- 
mored cable  in 119 

Furring  strips 1 52 

fishing  conductors  laid 
on 199 


General  expense  charges  on 
interior  wiring,  over- 
head and 6 1 

Germany,  methods  of  solicita- 
tion in 30 

Strasburg,  customers  per 

1000  population I 

wiring  in 136 

Glass     button     construction, 

flexible  cord  on 135 

Group  method  of  securing  new 

business 48 

Growth,  rate  of 2 

Guide   for   fishing   wire,   iron 

pipe  as 197 


H 


Hall    lighting    by    three-way 

switch 153 

Handbill  advertising 1 8 

Hardwood  floors,  cost  of  cut- 
ting      62 

cost  of  cutting  parque- 
try and 62 

Harrisburg,  Pa.  campaign 50 

Helper's  work  in  wire  fishing.    187 

Holder  for  extension-bit 177 

Holes,  cutting  outlet 169 

for  round  outlets  boxes  in 
plastered       surfaces, 

cutting 170 

in  joists,  boring 171 

sizes  of,  to  be  bored  with 

pipe-extension  tool. .   176 


266 


INDEX 


Home-made  exploring  lamps.  179 

Hook  for  fishing 291 

magnetized 189 

Hooked  snakes,  fishing  with 

two 196 

Houses  wired,  not  using  cur- 
rent   93 

percentage  of i 

House- wiring,  basis  of  estimat- 
ing.   87 

campaign,     specifications 

fora 85 


Illuminated    sign    advertising 

in  Kansas  City 13 

Illumination  and  exploring  of 
partition       interiors 

while  fishing 178 

Incandescent    lamps    for    fin- 
ished-building wiring 

installations 37 

Income,   average  from   small 

buildings 3 

Indicators,  excess 37 

Information  sheet 57 

preliminary 56 

Installation,  exposed  conduit,    ill 

flat-price  per 58 

lighting 91 

of  a  fixture  served  through 

molding 132 

of  a  wall  bracket  box  for 

steel  armored  cable. .  114 
of  bracket  outlet  box.  ...  107 
of  electrolier  with  circular 

loom  wiring 126 

of  entrance  wire 145 

of  Kuhlo  wire 138 

of  outlet    box    in    furred 

ceiling 117 

of  panel  box  in  rigid  con- 
duit work 105 

of  panel  box  or  distribu- 
tion center 234 


Installation  of   rigid  conduit 

switch  box 106 

of  switch  box 116 

of  the  panel-box 149 

of  wooden  molding 131 

three-way  switch  circuits.  153 
with  rigid  conduit  on  resi- 
dence exterior 249 

Installations,  conduit 103 

examples  of 217 

fixtures  for  finished-build- 
ing wiring 252 

miscellaneous 249 

planning 144 

without  panel  boxes 217 

Installing  a  flush  switch 208 

a  wall  switch  box,  method 

of 208 

conduit  lines  in  finished 
building         elevator 

shafts 109 

flexible  conduits  in  furred 

walls 119 

outlet  box,  method  of 239 

rigid  conduit  in  finished 

buildings,  procedure.   104 
service  switch  meter  and 

branch  blocks 221 

Irfterior  wiring,  overhead  and 
general  expense 

charges  on 61 

Iowa  Railway  and  Light  Com- 
pany, Marshalltown, 

Iowa  campaign 52 

Iron  pipe  as  guide  for  fishing 

wire 197 

Italy,    wiring    small    finished 

buildings  at  Milan.  .    136 


Joining     rigid    vertical     con- 
duits   107 

Joists,  boring  holes  in 171 

pipe-extension     tool     for 

boring  through 1 74 

slotting  for  conduit 103 


INDEX 


267 


Junction  boxes  and  distribu- 
tion cabinet  in  a  com- 
bination rigid-and- 
flexible  conduit  in- 
stallation. .  .121 


K 


Kansas  City  Electric  Co.,  rates 

for  wiring 81 

Light  Co.,  campaign..  .     49 
Mo.,  illuminated  sign  ad- 
vertising in 13 

Kitchen-or-Laundry        wiring 
plan  used  in  Kansas 

City 49 

Knob  and  tube  method  carry- 
ing conductors  floor 

to  floor 125 

description  of  wiring  a 
two-story  and  cellar 

building  by 229 

of  wiring  a  bracket 127 

ceiling  outlets 126 

finished  frame  build- 
ings    217 

wiring       for       finished 

buildings 123 

prices  for 83 

prohibition  of 144 

on  snake  for  fishing 187 

Kuhlo  wire 137 

economy  and  applications 

of 142 

installation  of 138 

'outlets  and  other  fixtures 

for 141 


Labor  costs,  N.  E.  L.  A 60 

Lamp  or  socket,  unit  price  per.  58 

Lamps,  electric  exploring 182 

for  finished-building  wir- 
ing installations 37 

home-made  exploring ....  1 79 


Lath  at  outlet  hole,  removing .    1 70 

Lead  pellet  mouse 184 

Letters,  advertising  enclosures 

with.... 98 

circular 1 1 

form  of 98 

form 94 

multigraphed    on    letter- 
heads      95 

subject  matter  of  98 

Lighting  installation 91 

Limiting  devices 37 

List  of  prospects 95 

Locating  center  of  ceiling 214 

Locator,  magnetic 183 

Long-distance  boring  tool ....    173 
Looped  snake  device,   mouse 

and 190 

Louisville,  Ky.,  Gas  &  Electric 

Co.  campaign 50 

premiums  to  solicitors.     31 
The  H.  M.  Byllesby  Co. 

campaign  at 42 


M 


Magnet  for  locating  outlet ...    183 

Magnetic  locator 183 

Magnetized  hook  for  fishing. .    189 
Mailing  circular  letters,  dates 

of 97 

Manchester,    N.    H.,    display 

cards  used  in 14 

Manipulation  of  the  pipe-ex- 
tension boring  tool ..    175 
Marshalltown,  la.  campaign. .     52 

Master  switch  circuits 153 

McKirdy,  J.  E.,  and  Howard 
H.  Wood,  notes  from 

papers  of 19 

Mediums  of  advertising,  dif- 
ferent methods  or. . .       7 
Metal    molding    installations, 

cost  of 130 

wiring 128 

rules 129 


268 


INDEX 


Metallic  conduit  and  flexible 
armored  conductor, 
constructions,  appli- 
cation and  grades  of .  114 

wiring 113 

for        medium-grade 
finished    buildings., 

prices  of  flexible 74 

flexible     conduit     outlet 

box  in  metal  ceiling  .  117 

Meter  installation 221 

location,  selection 145 

Method  of  estimating 92 

of  removing  floor  boards.    161 
Methods,     miscellaneous,     in 
finished-building  wir- 
ing    212 

of  cutting  small  pockets.    167 
of  determining  cost  and 
prices    for    finished- 
house  wiring 50 

of  exploring  wiring  spaces .    1 84 

of  payment 32 

of  wiring,  European 135 

finished  buildings 101 

or  mediums  of  advertising       7 
Michigan  Electric  Co.,  South 

Bend,  Ind.  campaign     51 

charges  for  wiring 83 

Middle   West,   percentage   of 

houses  wired  in j 

Minneapolis,  H.  M.  Byllesby 
Co.  premium  cam- 
paign in 40 

Mirror    for    exploring    wiring 

spaces 180 

Miscellaneous  installations .  .  .   249 
Mobile   Electric   Co.    charges 

for  wiring 78 

flat-rate  installations . .     58 
Moisture,     metallic     conduit 
must  not  be  subjected 

to 118 

use  of  rigid  and  flexible 
conduit  where  run  is 
exposed  to 120 


Molding,     boring     plaster-of- 

Paris  canopies  and .  .  1 70 
conductors    carried    con- 
cealed within 132 

dead,  use  of 134 

for  extensions  to  existing 

installations,  wooden.  1 33 

wiring,  metal 128 

prohibition  of 144 

wooden 130 

wooden,  forms  of 131 

Mt.  Vernon,  111.  campaign 53 

rates  for  wiring 83 

Mouse  and  looped  snake  de- 
vice   190 

construction  of 191 

manipulation  of  the ...  191 

substitute  for  the 192 

lead  pellet 1 84 

the 184 

Moving  picture  theater  adver- 
tising   99 

Muncie,    Ind.    Electric  Light 

Co.  campaign 51 

prices    and    terms    of 

payments 81 

Municipal      wiring      require- 
ments   144 

rules,  effect  on  cost  of 

wiring 61 

N 

Nails     in     trim     should     be 

punched  through ....    168 
National    electrical    code    re- 
quirements, wiring 
a  bracket  to  meet.   124 

rules 144 

effect    on    cost    of 

wiring 61 

metal  molding. ...    129 

wooden  molding 131 

Electric  Light  Associa- 
tion's booklet, 
"Electric  Service  in 
the  Home"..  ......  16 


INDEX 


269 


National  Electric  Light  Asso- 
ciation report  cost 

data  in 60 

of  committee  on 
wiring  existing 
buildings,  cus- 
tomers per 

capita I 

Metal  Molding  Co.'s  oval- 
duct 112 

Neatness  and  how  attained. ..    157 
New   buildings   per  thousand 

population 5 

Newspaper  advertising 9>  99 

electrical  page 19 

Number  of  lamps,   price  per 

outlet  varies  with ...     59 
of  outlets  and  sockets,  re- 
lation of 60 

O 

Obstructions  in  walls  and  par- 
titions,   methods    of 

passing 201 

Order  for  wiring  already  built 

houses 17 

Outline  of  house-wiring  cam- 
paign    for     Dawson 
Light  &  Power  Co...     86 
Outlet  box,  bracket,  wiring  to.  239 
ceiling,   method  of  in- 
stalling    239 

for  flexible  metallic  con- 
duit in  furred  ceiling.  117 

in  metal  ceiling 117 

installation  of  bracket .    107 
last  step  in  flexible  con- 
duit job 117 

boxes  in  conduit  installa- 
tions     103 

connecting  a  ceiling 233 

holes,  cutting 169 

partition,  near  a  doorway.  202 
switch,  method  of  wiring.  231 
under  parquetry  border, 

reaching  a  ceiling  ...  210 


Outlet,  unit  price  per 58 

wiring  for  a  side 131 

from  a  partition  to  a 

ceiling  outlet 212 

Outlets  and  sockets,  number 

of,  relation  between .     60 

and    fittings    for    Kuhlo 

wire 141 

baseboard,  wiring  to 246 

cost   of   wiring   standard 

ceiling 67 

fishing  to  ceiling  or  cen- 
ter    209 

flexible  tubing  at 124 

getting  past  obstructions 

to  wall  and  partition.  201 

in      partitions,      running 

wires  to 200 

in  stone  or  brick,   charge 

for 69 

metal     molding,     charge 

for 69 

one  vertical  conduit  run 

can  serve  two 123 

switches       and       extras, 

switch  prices 73 

Ovalduct 112 

Overhead  and  general  ex- 
penses, interior  wir- 
ing   61 


Pacific    Coast,    percentage   of 

houses  wired i 

Panel  box,  conduit  for  feeder 
between   entrance 

and 104 

construction  of  a 147 

details 148 

distribution  center.  ...    147 

installation 149 

in  rigid  conduit  work. .    105 

trim 149 

wiring  a  building  large 
enough  to  justify  the 
installation  of  a 234 


270 


INDEX 


Panel  box,  wiring  to 237 

boxes,  installations  with- 
out    217 

wrought    iron    conduit 

in 150 

Parquetry  floors,  cost  of  cut- 
ting       62 

wood  border,  reaching  a 
ceiling  outlet  located 

under  a 210 

Partition,  attaching  outlet  box 

in 116 

interiors,  exploring ..    178,181 
making    a    pocket    into 

space  in  a 164 

outlet  near  a  doorway ...   202 
to     a     ceiling     outlet, 
method  of  wiring 

from 212 

Partitions,  wiring  between. . . .  206 

Payment,  methods  of 32 

Payments,  terms  of,  Muncie, 

'  Ind 81 

Pennsylvania    Electric    Asso- 
ciation paper 19 

Percentage  of  houses,  wired . .       i 

Personal  canvass 19 

Peschel  tube  system 136 

Pipe  as  guide  for  fishing  wire.    197 
wrench,    turning    boring 

tool  with 175 

extension  boring  tool 173 

dowel  joint  for 175 

manipulation  of 175 

tool,  turning  with  pipe 

wrench 176 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.  advertising..  .     21 

campaign 47 

Placards  used  in  Manchester, 

N.  H.  campaign....     14 

Planning  an  installation 144 

Plastered     surfaces,     cutting 

outlet  holes  in 169 

"Plaster    Hose"    system    in 

Austria 137 

Plaster-of- Paris,  boring 170 


Pocket,  cutting  a  small 166 

floor,  running  conductors 
from,  to  partition 
without  disturbing 

baseboard 212 

making  one  in  a  partition  164 

Pockets,  how  to  make 159 

Point  of  entrance  selections ...    145 

Policies 32 

Policy  in  regard  to  fixtures. . .     35 
to  furnishing  lamps. ...     37 
Possibilities  and  results,  table 

of 5 

of  the  small  customer. ...       2 

Post  cards 98 

card  with  letters 94 

Posters  and  billboard  adver- 
tising       13 

Preliminary  information  sheet     56 
Premium   campaign  in   Min- 
neapolis      40 

"  Premium  "  campaigns  adver- 
tising example 40 

Premiums  as  a  stimulant  to 

solicitors 31 

Price  for  wiring  finished  frame 

buildings,  average. . .     63 
of  wiring  finished  build- 
ings, switches,  switch 
outlets  and  extras. . .     73 
per  lamp  or  socket,  unit. .     58 

per  outlet 58 

schedule,    advantages    of 

carrying  a  simple...     28 
of  Baltimore  Light  Co .     70 

unit 69 

Union     Electric    Light 

and  Power  Co 77 

Prices  and  costs  of  finished- 
building  wiring 54 

and  estimating 35 

charged  for  wiring  finished 
buildings,  North 

Central   City 77 

for  finished-building  wir- 
ing, South  Bend,  Ind.  83 


INDEX 


271 


Prices  for  wiring,  Kansas  City 

Electric  Co 81 

lamps   and   fixtures   in 

Mobile,  Ala 78 

Mt.  Vernon,  111 83 

list   for   finished-building 

wiring 61 

N.  E.  L.  A 61 

miscellaneous,    Baltimore 

Co 71 

of    concealed    knob    and 

tube  wiring 83 

of   Edison    Electric    Illu- 
minating Co.,  Boston, 

Mass 79 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y 76 

of  extras,  costs  and 68 

and  list 68 

of  fixtures 253 

of  flexible  conduit  wiring .      74 
metallic  conduit  wiring 
for  medium-g  r  a  d  e 
finished  buildings...  .      74 
of  Muncie  Electric  Co ...      8 1 
of  outlets  of  various  types     67 
of  services,  entrances  arid 
runs  to  centers  of  dis- 
tribution       66 

of  wiring  in  different  lo- 
calities  i 62 

standardized  or  unit 56 

Profits  on  and  list  prices  for 
finished-building  wir- 
ing   61 

Properties  and  dimensions  of 
rigid  conduit  and  con- 
duit fitting 102 

Proposal  for  wiring,  typical. . .     30 

Prospect  list 95 

Pulling   fixture   wires   past   a 

right  angle 195 

flexible    conduit,     device 

for Ii8 

Pulling-in  line,  sash  cord  for. .   190 
Pull-socket     chain     for     fish- 
ing     185 


Ratchet  drills  for  boring  floor 

and  ceiling  plates ...    1 72 

Rate  of  growth 2 

Rattan  snake 189 

Reading  notice  advertising. . .     24 
Record  of  unwired  buildings, 

card 26 

Relation  between  number  of 

outlets  and  sockets.  .     60 
of  advertising  to  selling. .     92 
Relations  with  contractors...  .     33 
Removal  and  replacement  of 

trim 168 

Removing    baseboards,    tools 

for 168 

floor  boards  with  a  chisel .    1 6 1 

trim 168 

Rental  of  fixtures  in  Europe. .     36 
Report  of  committee  on  wiring 
existing    buildings, 
National    Electric 

Light  Ass'n i 

Residence  wiring,  contract  and 

specifications  for. ...      89 
Results  and  possibilities,  table 

of 5 

Right    angle,    pulling    fixture 

wires  past  a 195 

Rigid    and    flexible    conduit, 

combination  of 119 

conduit  in  finished  build- 
ings,   procedure    for 

installing 104 

installed  on  exterior  of 

building no 

on     residence     exte- 
rior    249 

substituted  for  flexible  121 

wiring 102 

or  flexible  conduit  in  brick 

or  masonry  walls —    122 
vertical  conduits,  joining.    107 
Riser  in   building   of   several 

stories,  conduct no 


272 


INDEX 


Rod,  steel  measuring,  used  in- 
stead of  snake  or 
mouse 188 

Round  outlet  boxes  in  plas- 
tered surfaces 170 

Routes  for  conductors 145 

Rules  of  National  Electrical 

code,  metal  molding .  1 29 


vSalesman,  expert  estimator  is 

seldom  a  good 25 

personal  follow-up  by  ...     98 

-solicitors 25 

Salesmen,  stimulation  of 92 

wiremen      as      electrical- 
goods 30 

Sash  cord  pulling  in  lines 190 

Saw,    flooring,    for    finished- 
building  wiremen. ...    160 
for  removing  floor  boards.  159 
Sawing  out  a  lath  at  outlet 

hole 170 

Saxony,  rental  of  fixtures  in. .     36 
Scraper,  cutting  floor  boards 

tongues  with 163 

Sectional  steel  rod  instead  of 

snake  or  mouse 188 

Selling,  relation  of  advertising 

to 92 

Service  entrance,  flat  price  for     59 

switch 221 

Services,  costs  and  list  prices.     66 

Side  outlet,  wiring  for  a 131 

outlets,   running  conduc- 
tors to 200 

Sign    advertising    in    Kansas 

City,  Mo 13 

Signs,  electric 19 

Sill,       carrying       conductors 

around  or  through  a.  205 

Sizes,  calculation  of  wire 146 

Slotting  joists  for  conduit.  ...    103 
Small    customer,    possibilities 

of 3 


Snake  device,  manipulation  of 
the       mouse        and 

looped 191 

mouse  and  looped 190 

for  fishing,  knob  on  end 

of 187 

or  fishing  wire 186 

or  mouse,  sectional  steel 

rod  instead  of 1 88 

rattan 189 

steel  measuring  tape  as  a .    1 88 

with  weighted  end 187 

Snakes,      fishing     with     two 

hooked 196 

Socket,  unit  price  per 58 

Sockets  and  outlets,  number 

of,  relation  between .     60 
Soft-wood  flooring,  taking  up.    162 

vSoldering  connections 213 

Solicitation 25 

districts,     division    of    a 

community  into 26 

group  method  of 48 

in  Germany,  methods  of     30 
Soliciting  business,  estimators 

in 29 

card,  sample 27 

personal  canvass 19 

Solicitors,  cash  premiums  as  a 

stimulant  to 31 

estimator  and  salesman. .     25 
finished-building  wiremen 

as 30 

should  carry  pictures  and 

prices  of  fixtures. ...     36 
South  Bend,  Ind.  campaign. . .     50 

prices  for  wiring 83 

Specification  and  contract. ...     89 
Specifications  for  house- wiring 
campaign   for    Daw- 
son  Light   &   Power 

Co 85 

Splicing  flexible  conduit 114 

Splitting    of   boards,    how   to 

avoid 168 

Standardized  or  unit  prices. .  .     56 


INDEX 


273 


Stannos  wire I42 

Steel  armored  cable  or  flex- 
ible conduit,  in- 
stallation of  a  wall 
bracket  box  for  ...  114 
wiring  a  three-story 
city  residence  with 

flexible 234 

conductor    or     flexible 

steel  cable 113 

fish  bit .    178 

wire,  dimensions  of 1 86 

hook  fishing  tool 1 89 

measuring  tape  as  a  snake.  1 88 

Stimulation  of  salesmen 92 

St.   Louis  campaign,   fixtures 

used  in 256 

Mo.  Union  Electric  Light 
and  Power  Co.  cam- 
paign at 44 

price  schedule  of  Union 
Electric  Light  & 

Power  Co 77 

Street  car  advertising 99 

cards 12 

Strips,  furring 152 

Styles  of  fixtures  to  feature ...   256 
Substitute     for     mouse     and 

looped  snake  device.    192 

for  wall  fixture 307 

Substitution  of  rigid  for  flex- 
ible conduit 121 

Supporting     electroliers     fed 

from  attic 108 

Switch  box  for  flexible   con- 
duit     116 

installation  of  rigid  con- 
duit     106 

boxes,  cutting  holes  for.  .    169 

installing  a  flush 208 

mounting  in  bath  room . .   248 
outlet,  method  of  wiring  a.  23 1 
outlets,  switches  and  ex- 
tras, prices 73 

Switches,  labor  cost  for  install- 
ing       6 1 

18 


Switches,   wiring    a    building 

with  double-pole....   251 
wooden  base  blocks  for ...    128 

Symmetrical  appearance, plac- 
ing dead  molding  to 
insure 134 


Table  of  possibilities  and  re- 
sults   5 

Tape,  steel  for  snake 188 

Terms  of  payment  of  the  Mun- 

cie  Electric  Light  Co.     81 
Three-story     city      residence 
with    flexible    cable, 

wiring  a 234 

way  and  emergency 

switch  circuits 153 

switches,  detail  of  wir- 
ing   for    hall    lights 

with 225 

Time-payment  proposition ...      86 
Toledo,    Ohio,    electric    light 

users  in 2 

Railway   &  Light    Co. 

campaign 5° 

Tongue  and   groove  flooring, 

taking  up 164 

Tool,   door  knob,   for  boring 

from  outlets 171 

exploring  bit 1 82 

Tools,  boring 170 

brick  drills 213 

for  fishing 1 83 

for  removing  baseboards  168 

the  mouse 184 

Trim,  construction  and  instal- 
lation of  the  panel- 
box 149 

removal  and  replacement 

of 168 

removing 1 68 

Tube    and    knob    wiring    for 

finished  buildings 123 

system,   Bergman n 136 

Peschel 136 


274 


INDEX 


Two-wire  emergency  circuits.    155 
U 

Umbrella  as  dirt  catcher 158 

Underwriters'  wiring   require- 
ments     144 

Union      Electric     Light     and 
Power  Co.  campaign 

at  St.  Louis 44 

circular     includes      con- 
tract       16 

street  car  advertising     13 
Unit  price  per  lamp  or  socket .      58 
schedule   of    Baltimore 

Light  Co 69 

prices 56 

United    States,    number    per- 
sons    using     electric 

lights I 

Unwired  buildings,  card  record 

of..  26 


Vertical  conduit  run  can  serve 

two  outlets.  ...;....    123 
conduits,  joining  rigid...  .    107 

W 

Wall   bracket   box   for   steel 
armored      cable      or 

flexible  conduit 114 

paper,  cutting,  to  expose 

plaster 204 

switch  box,  installing  a.  .  208 
Weight-and-chain  mouse. ...  184 
Werdan  Saxony,  rental  of 

fixtures  in 36 

West  Penn.  Traction  Com- 
pany,    Butler,      Pa. 

campaign 52 

Wire,  a  snake  or  fishing 1 86 

bare    concentric     (Kuhlo 

wire 137 

dimensions   of    steel   fish 

wire 186 

fishing,  angling  rod  for.. .    193 


Wire  fishing,  helpers  work  in.  187 

Kuhlo 137 

sizes,  calculation  of 146 

weighted  end  fishing 187 

Wired  houses,  not  using  cur- 
rent      93 

Wiring  a  bracket,  knob  and 

tube  method  of 127 

to  meet  code  require- 
ments   124 

a  building  large  enough  to 
justify  installation  of 
panel  box  or  distri- 
bution center 234 

with      d  o  u  b  1  e-p  ol  e 

switches 251 

with  flexible  conduit  or 
flexible  armored  ca- 
ble   119 

apartment 133 

a   small   frame   building, 

example 228 

a  two-story  and  cellar 
building  by  knob  and 

tube  method 229 

a  three-storied  city  resi- 
dence with  flexible 

cable 234 

between  partitions 206 

•    buildings     with     cinder- 
filled  floors 215 

campaign,  advertising 

cost  of  a 7 

the  desideratum  of . . .  .  6 
finished-building,    esti- 
mators work  in  a ....     29 
campaigns,    the    bargain 

feature  in 7 

ceiling  outlets,  knob  and 

tube  method  of 126 

effect   of   Municipal   wir- 
ing rules  on  cost  of ...     6 1 
emergency  or  burglar. ...    154 
exposed   conduit  for  fin- 
ished-buildings     no 

for  finished  buildings ..    101 


INDEX 


275 


Wiring  finished    buildings    in 

England 142 

in  Europe 135 

cost  of 84 

rates  charged  by  Kan- 
sas   City    Electric 

Co 81 

finished   building,   solder- 
ing connections  in.  213 
use  of  flexible  tubing 

or  circular  loom  in.  123 
fixtures  and  lamps,  policy.  87 
five-story  buildings  with 

steel-armored  cable. .   243 
flexible  metallic  conduit.    113 
steel-armored  con- 
d  u  c  t  o  r  or  flexible 

steel  cable  for 113 

for    a    side    outlet    with 

molding 131 

for  bracket  outlets 241 

for    finished       buildings, 

methods  of 101. 

for  hall  lights  with  three- 
way  switches,  details 

of 225 

for  medium  grade  finished 
buildings,  prices  of 
flexible  metallic  con- 
duit   74 

from  a  partition  outlet  to 

a  ceiling  outlet 212 

in  Europe,  methods  of . . .    135 
installations,   fixtures  for 

finished  building.  ...   252 

knob  and  tube 123 

metal  molding 128 

methods  of 101 

neatness       in       finished 

building 157 


Wiring  of  a  five-story-and- 
basement  building 
with  flexible  steel 

armored  cable 243 

of  finished  frame  build- 
ings by  knob  and 

tube  method 217 

overhead  and  general  ex- 
pense charges  on  in- 
terior   61 

plan     used     in     Kansas 
City,     double-socket 
kitchen  or  laundry . .     49 
price  schedule,  carrying  a 

simple 28 

rigid  conduit 102 

small    finished    buildings 

at  Milan,  Italy 173 

spaces,  exploring 1 80 

specifications  and  sched- 
ule of  prices,  Louis- 
ville, Ky 14 

three-way  switch 453 

to  baseboard  outlets 246 

to  panel  box 237 

wooden  molding 130 

Window  display  advertising.  15,  99 
Windows,  construction  around.  1 52 
Wood  building  construction .  .    1 50 
Wooden  base  blocks  for  fix- 
ture and  switches.  . .    128 
molding  and  flexible  tub- 
ing combination 133 

for  extensions  to  exist- 
ing installations 133 

forms  of 131 

installation  of 131 

wiring 130 

Wrought  iron  conduit  in  panel 

boxes 150 


UNIVERSITY  Oi 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 


AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THJS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  5O  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
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OVERDUE. 


DEC  12  1933 

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ASTRO  N     MATH       t5i_15 

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STAT.  LIBRARY 

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